Remington's Reading Space

  1. BIBLIOGRAPHY Johnson, V., & Wright, S. (2020). Twins. Graphix, an imprint of Scholastic. ISBN: 978-1338236132 2.  PLOT SUMMARY Maureen and Francine Carter are twins and best friends. They participate in the same clubs, enjoy the same foods, and are partners on all their school projects. But just before the girls start sixth grade, Francine becomes Fran -- a girl who wants to join the chorus, run for class president, and dress in fashionable outfits that set her apart from Maureen. A girl who seems happy to share only two classes with her sister! Maureen and Francine are growing apart and there's nothing Maureen can do to stop it. Are sisters really forever? Or will middle school change things for good? 3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS I loved this graphic novel, although I may be a little biased because I have twin sisters and am the mother of two adorable twins. This book is a must-read! I thought this coming-of-age book was cute and very relatable. For example, growing up, I sa...

  1. BIBLIOGRAPHY Thomas, A. (2021). Concrete Rose. Balzer + Bray, an imprint of Harper Collins Publishers. ISBN: 978-0062846716 2.   PLOT SUMMARY If there’s one thing seventeen-year-old Maverick Carter knows, it’s that a real man takes care of his family. As the son of a former gang legend, Mav does that the only way he knows how: dealing for the King Lords. With this money he can help his mom, who works two jobs while his dad’s in prison. Life’s not perfect, but with a fly girlfriend and a cousin who always has his back, Mav’s got everything under control. Until that is, Maverick finds out he’s a father. Suddenly he has a baby, Seven, who depends on him for everything. But it’s not so easy to sling dope, finish school, and raise a child. So when he’s offered the chance to go straight, he takes it. In a world where he’s expected to amount to nothing, maybe Mav can prove he’s different. When King Lord blood runs through your veins, though, you can't just walk away. L...

  1. BIBLIOGRAPHY Alexander, K., & Nelson, K. (2019). The undefeated. Versify, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN: 978-1328780966 2.  PLOT SUMMARY The Newbery Award-winning author of THE CROSSOVER pens an ode to black American triumph and tribulation, with art from a two-time Caldecott Honoree. Originally performed for ESPN's The Undefeated, this poem is a love letter to black life in the United States. It highlights the unspeakable trauma of slavery, the faith and fire of the civil rights movement, and the grit, passion, and perseverance of some of the world's greatest heroes. The text is also peppered with references to the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., Langston Hughes, Gwendolyn Brooks, and others, offering deeper insights into the accomplishments of the past, while bringing stark attention to the endurance and spirit of those surviving and thriving in the present. Robust back matter at the end provides valuable historical context and additional detail for those wishin...

  1. BIBLIOGRAPHY Wittenstein, B., & Pinkney, J. (2019). A place to land: Martin Luther King Jr. and the speech that inspired a nation . Neal Porter Books. ISBN: 978-0823443314 2.  PLOT SUMMARY Much has been written about Martin Luther King, Jr. and the 1963 March on Washington. But there's little on his legendary speech and how he came to write it. Martin Luther King, Jr. was once asked if the hardest part of preaching was knowing where to begin. No, he said. The hardest part is knowing where to end. "It's terrible to be circling up there without a place to land." Finding this place to land was what Martin Luther King, Jr. struggled with, alongside advisors and fellow speech writers, in the Willard Hotel the night before the March on Washington, where he gave his historic "I Have a Dream" speech. But those famous words were never intended to be heard on that day, not even written down for that day, not even once . 3.CRITICAL ANALYSIS This ...

  1. BIBLIOGRAPHY Fung, R. (2021). Living with viola. Annick Press. ISBN: 978-1773215488 2.  PLOT SUMMARY Livy is already having trouble fitting in as the new girl at school—and then there’s Viola. Viola is Livy’s anxiety brought to life, a shadowy twin that only Livy can see or hear. Livy tries to push back against Viola’s relentless judgment, but nothing seems to work until she strikes up new friendships at school. Livy hopes that Viola’s days are numbered. But when tensions arise both at home and at school, Viola rears her head stronger than ever. Only when Livy learns how to ask for help and face her anxiety does she finally figure out living with Viola. Rosena Fung draws on her own early experiences with anxiety and the pressures of growing up as the child of Chinese immigrant parents to craft a charming, deeply personal story that combines the poignancy of Raina Telgemeier’s Guts with the wacky humor of Lumberjanes. Exuberant, colorful art brings Livy’s rich imaginative ...

  1. BIBLIOGRAPHY Thor, A., & Schenck, L. (2011). The Lily Pond . Delacorte Press. ISBN: 978-0385740395 2.  PLOT SUMMARY The Lily Pond continues the story of two Jewish sisters who left Austria during WWII/Holocaust and found refuge in Sweden. A year after Stephie Steiner and her younger sister, Nellie, left Nazi-occupied Vienna, Stephie has finally adapted to life on the rugged Swedish island where she now lives. But more change awaits Stephie: her foster parents have allowed her to enroll in school on the mainland, in Goteberg. Stephie is eager to go. Not only will she be pursuing her studies, she'll be living in a cultured city again—under the same roof as Sven, the son of the lodgers who rented her foster parents' cottage for the summer. Five years her senior, Sven dazzles Stephie with his charm, his talk of equality, and his anti-Hitler sentiments. Stephie can't help herself—she's falling in love. As she navigates a sea of new emotions, she also grapples with ...

  1. BIBLIOGRAPHY Nainy, M., & Loring-Fisher, J. (2022). Rainbow hands . Lantana Publishing Ltd. ISBN: 978-1913747749 2.  PLOT SUMMARY As the long late summer day stretches ahead of them, a young boy eagerly looks forward to his favorite time―painting-your-nails time. He know that when he dips into those magical bottles of nail polish, he will discover a color to express his every mood and feeling. Purple is the color of magic and mystery. White is the color of endless possibilities. At times, his papa frowns and says, "What have you done to your nails?" At other times, he says, "Why don’t you paint on paper instead?" But the little boy knows that painting his nails makes his hands look beautiful. This color-filled story celebrates the joy of finding out who you are and embracing the courage to be yourself.   3.CRITICAL ANALYSIS Another great read that I plan to add to my personal collection. This book presents a powerful message about being true to oneself. Thi...

  1. BIBLIOGRAPHY Fox, M., & Horacek, J. (2013). Good night, sleep tight . Scholastic Australia. ISBN: 978-0545533706 2.  PLOT SUMMARY When their favorite babysitter, Skinny Doug puts Bonnie and Ben to sleep, he begins by saying, “Good night, sleep tight” followed by classic nursery rhymes such as “It’s raining! It’s pouring! Bonnie and Ben love hearing the nursery rhymes and Skinny Doug keeps sharing more until they finally fall asleep. 3.CRITICAL ANALYSIS I loved this book! Each nursery rhyme is added into the story seamlessly! The book is full of repetition and onomatopoeia that make it easy for young kids to follow along with. Reading through this book, remined me of all favorite nursey rhymes that I grew up with. Although the characters in this book aren’t very developed, adult readers can see themselves as Skinny Doug when they retell their favorite nursery rhymes “they heard from their mother.” The illustrations are simple and fun. The colors used are also simple an...