Beach Pick or How To Move On With Your Life Pick: Ramona Blue

Ramona Blue
by Julie Murphy
Balzer + Bray
2017
400 pages (page count taken from arc)
ISBN: 9780062418357

Ramona Blue is author  Julie Murphy's most memorable character yet. A strong female on the brink of discovery, Ramona is learning about life and love and how both can change and that change is okay.

Ramona Blue longs to escape her seedy beach town of Eulogy, Mississippi--Eulogy--even sounds desolate right?  Ramona's world is made up of her pregnant sister Hattie, her inept  father, her idiot mother and no where to go or to be except at one of her jobs. Ramona is the only one who seems to "get" that the family  is struggling for their existence. Since Hurricane Katrina destroyed their home, they have been living in a FEMA trailer that is little better than sleeping outside.

Ramona is a larger than life figure--standing at over 6' tall, she has to duck and navigate her "home" and showering in the tiny shower is laughable. Ramona, far from a shrinking violet, sports electric blue hair...always. After saying good bye to her summer romance Grace, Ramona realizes that for her, it was more than just a summer fling. She is worried that Grace will go back to her "real" life and forget all about their summer together.

When old friend Freddie arrives back in town, Ramona is happy to spend time with him. It is easy being around Freddie and their friendship seems just right.

Ramona is on the edge of something great--her life is before her, her past behind her. This coming of age story will strike a chord in readers. It is real life. Fiction just says it better! Thank you, Julie Murphy, for making terrible things beautiful.

This book is for anyone who is at the crossroads whatever they may be. Ramona Blue will choose and it will be alright.

Heartfelt and deep, Ramona Blue will pull readers in, and Julie Murphy has another winner on her hands!

Highly recommended grade 9-up. Mature subject matter.

FTC Required Disclaimer: I received the ARC from the publisher. I did not receive monetary compensation for this review.

Early Reader Pick: The Favorite Daughter

The Favorite Daughter
by Allen Say
Arthur A. Levine Books
2013
32 pages

Beautiful watercolor art bring this sweet story to life. Yuriko is embarrassed when her art teacher calls her "Eureka," and the kids begin teasing her. To make matters worse, she took in a picture of herself wearing a kimona. The students tease her for being a blonde and for wearing the kimona. "They said Japanese dolls have black hair," she laments to her father.

Yoriko wants to change her name to something more American. She tells her dad she wishes she were named Jennifer and she swears she hates art. Her father takes her to their favorite restaurant to talk things over.

After a visit to Golden Gate Park and the Japanese Gardens, Yoriko knows what she wants to create for her art project.

The father/daughter relationship is poignant and powerful. Say uses two photographs of Yoriko--one as a child and one from a trip they took to Japan--incorporating the real life photos of Yoriko with the watercolor art is genius.

This picture book is a beautiful example of family values, generational values, the importance of one family's culture, the idea of "fitting in" in society and how each person values his/her own identity.

Highly, highly recommended grade pre-K-3. The Favorite Daughter is sure to be another award winner for Allen Say and is a must have for any collection.

FTC Required Disclaimer: I received the F & G from the publisher. I did not receive monetary compensation for this review.

This review has been posted in compliance with the FTC requirements set forth in the Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising (available at ftc.gov/os/2009/10/091005revisedendorsementguides.pdf)

Early Reader Pick: A Funny Little Bird

A Funny Little Bird
by Jennifer Yerkes
Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
2013
48 pages

Whimsical, tender, and terrific, A Funny Little Bird will entertain young readers. A lonely little bird who feels invisible and unappreciated dresses up in finery borrowed from nature--feathers borrowed from another far pretttier and ostentacious bird and beautiful leaves from plants and flowers, and he gets noticed for the first time.

Sometimes it's better in life to go unnoticed and under the radar. When the bird attracts the attention of a hungry fox, he realizes his mistake. He sheds his borrowed finery and becomes special once again. He makes friends who accept him as he is.

Illustrations by the author use whitespace (negative space) to show the bird. Color illustrations around the bird show his presence.This children's book is innovative and interesting. "Something truly new..." raves Bologna Children's Book Fair Honor Award (from the cover).

Highly recommended age 4-up.

FTC Required Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. I did not receive monetary compensation for this review.

This review has been posted in compliance with the FTC requirements set forth in the Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising (available at ftc.gov/os/2009/10/091005revisedendorsementguides.pdf)

Not Just For Children Pick: Exclamation Mark

Exclamation Mark
by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Illustrations by Tom Lichtenheld
Scholastic
2013
56 pages

Available March 1, 2013

Exclamation Mark is an empowering little book that should be read and loved by all ages.

The exclamation mark feels left out. He's weird looking. He stands out among all the periods, but one day, he sees someone different like him. He runs into a question mark.

The question mark greets him asking him a load of rapid fire questions: "Do you like frogs? ...Know any good jokes?...Is there an echo in here? Is there an echo in here?...Why do you look so surprised?" The exclamation mark can't take any more questions, so he yells, "STOP!"and suddently  realizes his own power. The exclamation mark is powerful--he is powerful! He shows off his newfound courage and power to the average periods and they are happy for him. He goes off into the world, "...to make his mark."

This clever quick read is surprising in its integrity and strength. Every individual wants to stand out; every human has the need to "be somebody" and be good at something. Every child and  teen struggles with an identity crisis. Every adult who goes through life changing struggles needs to find her strength again.  The exclamation mark learns that it's okay to be different; that sometimes different is better!

Exclamation Mark is a great gift for that young adult who is beginning high school or leaving high school or for that college grad going off to make her/his mark in life.

Highly, highly recommended for every book shelf or desk.  Amazon reviewers gave this book 5 star reviews and liked it to teach punctuation to second grade students, but the book is so much deeper than just the obvious punctuation marks.

Kirkus starred review, School Library Journal starred review, Booklist starred review

FTC Required Disclaimer: I received the F&G  from the publisher. I did not receive monetary compensation for this review.

Book Giveaway: Olivia and the Fairy Princesses

Olivia and the Fairy Princesses

by Ian Falconer

Atheneum Books for Young Readers

2012

40 pages

I have 5 copies of this fantastic new early reader up for grabs!

And I have 5 Olivia and the Fairy Princesses Event Kits up for grabs!

That's double the chances to win!

Simply post a comment on the blog and include your first name, city, state, and email address. The deadline for posts is September 12 at noon MST. Winners are chosen at random by Randomizer. Winners will be notified by email. Please check your email September 12. Winners have 24 hours to respond to my email. Books will ship from New York courtesy of Simon & Schuster.

Read my review:



Everyone who meets Olivia becomes an instant fan. She's a pig with wicked fashion sense and a mind of her own. She's outspoken, well-read, incredibly verbose, and headstrong.



Olivia feels she's having an identity crisis. All the kids around her want to be princesses--for Halloween, in ballet class, in life--even some of the boys want to be princesses. Olivia wanted to be a princess, but that is so last year when she was "little." She asks her parents why everyone wants the same thing. Ever the free thinker, Olivia searches for something new to become.



There are so many options! Olivia simply can't decide. She imagines herself as a nurse or a reporter. Until Olivia finally decides...why settle for being a princess when she could be ?????





Beautifully rendered artwork by the author makes this reviewer green with envy over Falconer's talent. Each two page spread will have children captivated. Clever, amusing, and entertaining for kids of all ages. The artwork could stand alone without the print and tell the entire story. Isn't that what any great young reader book aspires to do?



Olivia speaks to the little girl in each of us (yes, even some of the boys).

FTC Required Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. I did not receive monetary compensation for this review.

This review has been posted in compliance with the FTC requirements set forth in the Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising (available at ftc.gov/os/2009/10/091005revisedendorsementguides.pdf)