Review of How We Share Cake, by Kim Hyo-eun

Contemporary, Picture Book Review, Starred Review 0

How We Share Cake

by Kim Hyo-eun

Scribble, 2024. First published in Korea in 2022. 52 pages.
Review written April 15, 2025, from a library book.
Starred Review

This picture book is about a family of five siblings and how they have to share everything – including their uncle, breeze from a fan, and hand-me-down shiny yellow rain boots.

Much is made of the different kinds of things they share. It’s harder to share cotton candy than broccoli, for example, and there’s constant negotiation about who goes first when they have to share by taking turns.

Why did I relate so much to this book? I’m third of thirteen siblings – and when I was the age of the protagonist, there were five of us, in a family much like the one in this book.

Let’s just say I wasn’t surprised that the way the second child got one-on-one time with her parents was to break her arm when it was her turn on the scooter. And everyone else got a little more time!

To this day, it’s hard for me to pass treats that someone has left out to share – because I fundamentally don’t expect treat availability to last long.

This book shows the reader how a person can get tired of sharing – but also the joy of having people close by to share with.

hyoeunkim.com
scribblekidsbooks.com

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Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.

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Review of Himawari House, by Harmony Becker

Award Winners, Contemporary, Cross Cultural, Graphic Novel, Teen Fiction Review 0

Himawari House

by Harmony Becker

First Second, 2021. 380 pages.
Review written February 26, 2023, from a library book
2023 Asian/Pacific American Youth Literature Award Winner

This graphic novel was creator by the illustrator of George Takei’s graphic memoir, They Called Us Enemy. It’s about three Asian girls in Japan from other countries, staying in a home called Himawari House.

As the book opens, we follow Nao, who was born in Japan, but grew up in the United States. She doesn’t remember much about Japan, especially not the language, but it’s the background for her dreams, and she decided to spend a year in Japan after high school, before going to college.

She learns that her housemates are from Korea and Singapore. As the book goes on, we learn what things in their past made them decide to come to Japan. At the start, Nao is simply overjoyed that they both speak English. And there are also two boys living in Himawari House. One of them seems rude, but maybe he’s just shy because he doesn’t speak English very well?

This story has a lot of depth to it. I liked the way the author put in Japanese characters along with English in the speech bubbles when they were speaking in Japanese — or didn’t put the English where Nao didn’t understand the Japanese.

Taken all together, the book gives the feeling of the challenges of living where you don’t speak the language, as well as bonds that form and deep moments of connection. I thought the graphic novel format with speech bubbles in different languages was extra effective for this story.

harmonybecker.com
firstsecondbooks.com

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Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.

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Review of Frizzy, written by Claribel A. Ortega, art by Rose Bousamra

Award Winners, Children's Fiction Review, Contemporary, Graphic Novel 0

Frizzy

written by Claribel A. Ortega
art by Rose Bousamra

First Second, 2022. 218 pages.
Review written February 26, 2023, from a library book
Starred Review
2023 Pura Belpré Winner – Children’s Author
2023 Capitol Choices Selection

This graphic novel is about the weight of expectations a middle school girl’s Dominican family puts on her about her hair.

At the start, Marlene is grumpily suffering through a visit to the salon beyond the weekly one her mother makes her endure. They’re headed to her cousin’s quince. Her hair looks beautiful at the start of the party, but what with dancing and joking around with another cousin and getting hot and sweaty, her hair gets frizzy and poofs out in time for the pictures. All her family commiserates with her mother about Marlene’s “bad hair.”

Later, she tries some things on her own, which backfire. Kids at school put tape in her bushy hair, and she doesn’t notice. When she lashes out at the bullies, she’s the one who gets in trouble.

But yes, there’s a moment of truth with a young aunt. She shows Marlene that beautiful hair doesn’t have to be straight and shows her how to care for her curls. And backs her up when her mother finds out.

This book is lovely at pointing out the hypocrisy of adults who try to tell kids to be themselves — but then make them go through agony to change their appearance to be more acceptable. The message is lovely and affirming, and the story is fun, with wonderful visuals giving it all the more punch.

claribelortega.com
firstsecondbooks.com

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Review of Iveliz Explains It All, by Andrea Beatriz Arango

Award Winners, Children's Fiction Review, Contemporary, Starred Review 0

Iveliz Explains It All

by Andrea Beatriz Arango

Random House, 2022. 268 pages.
Review written February 15, 2023, from a library book
Starred Review
2023 Newbery Honor Book

Iveliz is a seventh-grader who was hoping that everything would be better now that she’s in seventh grade. But that didn’t happen. We get to listen in on her thoughts and her struggles as we read her journal, written in poetry.

We learn pretty early that Iveliz had something awful happen a couple years ago, but we don’t learn right away what it is. Now, her grandma from Puerto Rico is moving into their home because she’s getting worse with Alzheimer’s.

And even though Mimi loves her, she doesn’t think Iveliz should take pills or go to therapy. One more person who thinks she’s not enough. At school, she gets so mad at the bullies and fights back — which disappoints her Mami. Why is Iveliz never good enough for her? And surely Iveliz can make some rules that will set things right again.

I read this book because it’s a Newbery Honor book, and I appreciate the Newbery committee bringing it to my attention. It’s a compassionate look at a kid for whom life is just getting too overwhelming, spotlighting mental health and finding people who care.

andreabeatrizarango.com
rhcbooks.com

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Review of Every Monday Mabel, by Jashar Awan

Contemporary, Picture Book Review, Starred Review 0

Every Monday Mabel

by Jashar Awan

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2025. 44 pages.
Review written March 17, 2025, from a library book.
Starred Review

I have discovered a new-to-me picture book author whose work I love! After reading Geisel Honor-winning Towed by Toad, I discovered the author has a new book published in 2025, and placed a hold. This one, too, is great fun – with simple language (though not quite as beginning-reader friendly as Towed by Toad), simple lines, and bright colors.

The first half of the book is anticipation.

It’s Monday, and Mabel wakes up early and drags her chair out of her room down the hallway. She grabs a bowl of dry cereal and sets up outside in front of the garage. Her sister thinks the thing she does every morning is the most boring thing in the world, her mother thinks it’s the cutest, and her father thinks it’s the funniest. One thing the reader is sure of is her absolute determination.

And then…

The Garbage Truck comes!

The best thing in the world is finally here!

From there, the backgrounds change from plain white to a bright, happy yellow. The pages are full of onomatopoeia, echoing the noises of the truck. We see Mabel joyfully jumping and dancing with each wondrous movement of the giant truck.

And the book pulls off a satisfying ending by showing us that, despite Mabel’s indifferent family, there are other garbage-truck watchers throughout the town.

I know a Storytime hit when I see one! The anticipation plus all the sound effects make this a winner for sure. And small garbage-truck lovers throughout the country will find a kindred spirit in Mabel.

JasharAwan.com

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Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.

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Review of Kings of B’More, by R. Eric Thomas

Audiobooks, Contemporary, Teen Fiction Review 0

Kings of B’More

by R. Eric Thomas
read by Torian Brackett

Listening Library, 2022. 9 hours, 58 minutes.
Review written January 25, 2023, from a library eaudiobook.
2023 Stonewall Honor Book

Kings of B’More is a story of two friends on an adventure. Harrison and Linus are two black gay boys, who’ve just spent every day together in the summer before their junior year of high school. And then Linus tells Harrison that he and his dad are moving from Baltimore to North Carolina on the very next weekend.

Harrison is devastated. It’s not a friendship he wants to lose. When his father chooses “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” for Family Movie Night, Harrison gets an idea. He’ll plan a Ferris Day for Linus! They’ll take off from their jobs and go off and have an adventure, doing things that scare them and things they’ve always wanted to do. It will be a grand gesture that will make sure Linus doesn’t forget him and cement their friendship forever.

Of course, there’s a catch. Both Harrison’s and Linus’s parents use an app that tracks their movements. So they’re going to need someone to take their phones as a decoy to the places where they’d normally spend the day. They find an app and an old ipad to use in place of phones.

Harrison makes elaborate plans and sets his heart on making Ferris Day a grand success. Of course, it turns out that his plans start going awry from the very beginning. But could it be that the adventure turns out even better than he’d planned?

This is a refreshingly lovely story of friendship. Oh, and it made me resurrect my intention of visiting the Museum of African American History in Washington, DC, which I’d put aside when the pandemic started. I did enjoy the way the book is grounded in real places, even if I only recognized the DC ones.

rericthomas.com
PenguinTeen.com

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Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.

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Review of Girls Like Her, by Melanie Sumrow

Audiobooks, Contemporary, Starred Review, Teen Fiction Review 0

Girls Like Her

by Melanie Sumrow
read by January LaVoy

Clarion Books, 2024. 9 hours, 4 minutes.
Review written April 2, 2025, from a library eaudiobook.
Starred Review
2025 Odyssey Award Honor Audiobook

Wow. Odyssey Award Honorees are always worth listening to. Every time. This one had me riveted from the moment it started.

It starts off telling about a prominent citizen who’s been murdered. And that police have arrested a suspect. Then we meet the 15-year-old girl who killed him, already in juvenile hall for months, meeting with a new social worker before a hearing where the prosecution wants to have her tried as an adult.

The prosecution gets its way in that hearing, so Ruby is moved to a women’s jail. And she knows that if she doesn’t win her case, she will be in prison for life. The book uses multiple formats to tell the story – some news clippings (with a news show sound effect), some court transcripts from her trial, some notes from the social worker, some letters Ruby writes to a friend on the outside, but the bulk of the book is Ruby’s meetings with Cadence, the social worker, as she tries to get Ruby to open up and tell her story.

And it’s a hard story. Ruby was kicked out by her mother when she was 13. She fell in with someone she thought loved her (still thinking that in prison), but was sex trafficked by him. (I don’t think I’m giving too much away here. The reader/listener has the idea much sooner than Ruby does.) But we don’t find out what happened the day of the murder until the end of the book.

The production quality of this audiobook is excellent, with plenty of sound effects to give you cues about the different types of material used. The narrator’s voice adjusts to the different materials and speakers so much I thought there was more than one person reading until I looked it up at the end.

It’s a powerful story, but sad. The author has worked as a lawyer, so it all has the ring of truth, and she has listed some resources at the back. May our justice system do better for girls like her.

melaniesumrow.com

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Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.

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Review of Scattered Showers, by Rainbow Rowell

Contemporary, Short Stories, Teen Fiction Review 0

Scattered Showers

by Rainbow Rowell

Wednesday Books, 2022. 282 pages.
Review written January 15, 2023, from a library book

Rainbow Rowell is exceptionally good at quirky romances.

And that’s what this book is full of — short stories featuring quirky romances. The stories are indeed short, but they pull you in and make you root for the couple, each with their own obstacles to romance.

My favorites were the ones at the beginning of the book, self-contained sweet stories. Later, she included characters from her books Fangirl, Attachments, and the Simon Snow trilogy. I probably would have enjoyed those more if I’d read the books.

The first story is about friends who are always together at midnight on New Year’s Eve — and simply tells what happens each successive midnight. Another story I enjoyed takes place in a college dorm, with a girl listening to breakup music over and over. The guy who lives underneath her starts giving her mixtapes of music he likes better, and it turns out she does, too.

What they all have in common is the stories are quirky and feel so individual they seem like there must be real people like this.

These stories made me smile.

rainbowrowell.com

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Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.

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Review of Joyful Song, by Lesléa Newman, illustrated by Susan Gal

Award Winners, Contemporary, Picture Book Review, Starred Review 0

Joyful Song

A Naming Story

by Lesléa Newman
illustrated by Susan Gal

Levine Querido, 2024. 40 pages.
Review written February 4, 2025, from a library book.
Starred Review
2025 Sidney Taylor Silver Medal, Picture Books

I checked out this picture book after it was honored with a Sidney Taylor Silver Medal by the Association of Jewish Libraries – and what a beautiful book it is!

The story is told from the perspective of a kid named Zachary. His family is walking through their vibrant, colorful neighborhood to the synagogue for his baby sister’s first Shabbat, when they will announce her name to the world. Zachary gets to push her baby carriage.

Along the way, their neighbors Miss Fukumi, Mr. Baraka, and Mrs. Santiago greet them and ask the baby’s name. Before Zachary can speak, first Mama gives a nickname, then Mommy gives a nickname, and the third time, Zachary knows to tell Mrs. Santiago they call her Snuggle Bunny. All three neighbors are invited to come with them to the naming ceremony.

In the synagogue, the family comes up front, and they announce the name and why they chose it. It’s all followed by a meal, and walking home, with the three neighbors saying good-by, each in their own way, and talking about the lovely baby with a lovely name.

For Jewish families, it must be a delight to see your traditions reflected in this gorgeous picture book. (I can’t stress enough how wonderful the art is!) For non-Jewish families, you’ve got a lovely cross-cultural window. And every family who reads this book will find the perfect lead-in to talking about how you chose the names for your children.

galgirlstudio.com
levinequerido.com

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Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.

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Review of Jennifer Chan Is Not Alone, by Tae Keller

Audiobooks, Children's Fiction Review, Contemporary, Starred Review 0

Jennifer Chan Is Not Alone

by Tae Keller
read by Shannon Tyo and Carolyn Kang

Listening Library, 2022. 7 hours, 4 minutes.
Review written January 7, 2023, from a library eaudiobook
Starred Review

Jennifer Chan Is Not Alone is told from the perspective of Mallory, a middle school girl who worries about fitting in. Her best friend, Reagan, is the queen bee of the school. But when her neighbor, Jennifer Chan, goes missing, Mallory is terribly afraid it has something to do with “the Incident.”

When Jennifer moved into their neighborhood last summer, Mallory knew she was different. And Jennifer’s honesty about how she believes in aliens and is researching how to find them doesn’t help.

But then when Jennifer comes to school and seems to think she can get away without following the normal rules of popularity, Mallory doesn’t know what to think. Reagan feels she needs to be taught a lesson.

The timelines of the story go back and forth. Mallory thinks Jennifer was surely searching for aliens. Maybe if she can find some allies to follow in her footsteps, they can find Jennifer. But is that simply a way to avoid thinking about The Incident? What if that’s the real reason Jennifer left?

This book explores friendship and peer pressure and bullying and trying to figure out how to make amends. And it asks the question: Who do you want to be? Oh, and it also talks about aliens and how they might make themselves known to us.

I was especially moved by the author’s note at the back, read in the audiobook by Tae Keller, where she talks about how she was horribly bullied in middle school and her process in trying to channel that for this book. She did an amazing job of turning that awful experience into art that heals.

taekeller.com

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Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.

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