How can you stay connected to a loved one when they are locked away in prison?  

Jay Jay Patton lives in a suburban household with her mother and baby sibling.  She is an earnest student whom we see writing a letter to her dad, thriving in math class, and enjoying her after school dance program.  Then over dinner one night her mother shares the news that her dad is finally coming home.   

The subsequent chapter flashes back to Jay Jay’s budding awareness at age five that her dad is not around.  Then the  story flashes forward to the present and Jay Jay’s reunification with her father and the changes the family must make now that he’s home.  

Markia Jenai’s serviceable illustrations  convey Jay Jay’s diverse emotions which any middle school  child of an incarcerated parent might feel.  There is an element of surprise at the end of the story and rich evidence provided in the back matter to illustrate and substantiate the happy ending.  

Middle school readers with an incarcerated parent may find heretofore unavailable emotional comfort from a story like their own represented in a  graphic format.  All readers can gain something from Jay Jay’s beautiful story and learning from her memoir.  Highly recommended for all school libraries serving middle-school aged youth, this book was recently highlighted by the In the Margins Book Award.--Jessica Fenster-Sparber

Patton, Jay Jay.  Dear Dad: Growing Up With A Parent In Prison and How We Stayed Connected.  New York: Scholastic Graphix, 2024.

Who Was Selena? by Kate and Max Bisantz

Who Was Selena,  part of the Who Was? biography series,  provides a cogent overview and empathetic perspective of the life of Selena Quintanilla,  the beloved Texas-born  singer of Latin music,  known as the Queen of Tejano.  Students will be interested to learn how she skyrocketed to fame at an early age, had to  learn Spanish as a second language, and tragically died young.  

Significantly, the first chapter outlines the discrimination faced by Texans with Mexican ancestry like Selena.  In keeping with the series, this volume includes sidebars on schema-building topics like the Corpus Christi City Directory, Tejano Music, Laura Canales, and Gloria Estefan.  Black and white illustrations and white space make this an especially attractive choice for newly independent readers.  Backmatter includes Selena’s discography, a timeline of her life, and what was happening in the world during those years including the opening of Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida,  and the presidential campaign of Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to the US congress.  --Jessica Fenster-Sparber

Bisantz, Kate and Max.  Who Was Selena?  New York City: Penguin Wrrkshop, 2018.  Print.

A Guide To Grief by Cole Imperi Illustrated by Bianca Jagoe

Billed  as “the wise friend you need when you experience loss,” this non-fiction book may be needed in your self-help section.  Organized into nine chapters with plenty of white space and black and white illustrations, the introductory first chapter is  “for everyone” and then the book goes on to distinguish between “deathloss” (loss of a person or pet) and “shadowloss” (loss of a thing), the feelings present within grief, and how to support others through grief.  

Imperi and Jagoe make a noteworthy effort to be inclusive by presenting five fictitious young people experiencing grief in illustrations and sidebars. Backmatter includes prompts for journaling, a note for adults supporting young people in grief, bountiful and international resources, an index, a bibliography, and extensive acknowledgements.  Accessible to those reading at middle grade levels and up.--Jessica Fenster-Sparber

Imperi, Cole.  A Guide to Grief.  Toronto: Kids Can Press, 2024.

An Illustrated History of Urban Legends by Adam Allsuch Boardman

If you’re searching for an inoculation for the easily-taken-in teen, look no further than this highly stylized illustrated volume from Flying Eye.  Thoughtfully designed for maximum engagement and cursory browsing, the reader who devotes herself to a hundred or so pages of this book will feel a sense of remove and widened perspective.

After introducing the topic author-illustrator Boardman surveys urban legends by era without getting bogged down in the details,  and uses digital illustration and a palette of pinks, blues, and gold images to provide a lighthearted visual element to text blocks.  Layout is more like a DK book than typical narrative non-fiction.  

Eurocentric and although it sports a few typos, forgiving readers may appreciate Boardman’s consideration of global perspectives and how he shines a light on certain ableist angles perpetrated by urban legends.  Generous backmatter includes an illustrated list of further reading, films for further viewing,  a glossary, and an index.  Accessible to readers at middle school levels and up. --Jessica Fenster-Sparber

Allsuch Boardman, Adam.  An Illustrated History of Urban Legends.  Flying Eye, London, 2024.  Print.

Programming Spotlight: Nuttin' But A Word

 On Wednesday, February 7, Passages Academy’s school library at Belmont hosted a delightfully energizing pre-theater workshop co-led by the talented Ugo Anyanwu and Hassiem Muhammad through the New Victory Theater.  

Ugo and Hassiem are working actors who also serve as teaching artists.  They taught our Belmont students’  Blum group about choreographer Rennie Harris’s take on hip hop.  Then they engaged us all in learning four dance moves and a theater game or two.  

Reluctant at first, the students were highly responsive to the duo.  By the workshop’s end Blum’s participating staff members, my enthusiastic colleague, Ms. Thomas,  and the students were animated with movement and laughter.  We are ready to see Nuttin’ But A Word tomorrow at the historic theater. --Jessica Fenster-Sparber

My Name is Marcus by Geoffrey Philp, illustrated by Shaquille Cross and Marcel Hemmings

 

For many years my Belmont colleague has asked  for a text for students about Marcus Garvey, and until now, there has been little to recommend beyond biographical entries in reference works.  This previous dearth of texts about Garvey, whose significance cannot be overstated, now makes this graphic novel for middle school readers remarkable.  

Although the book lacks a  bibliography or table of contents,  teachers who have been hungering for a book about Garvey will be delighted by this slick and richly colored slim volume.  Crosse and Hemmings’ serviceable digital illustrations get the job done,  and youth reading it in detention may appreciate the depiction of Garvey’s time in an American prison and the abuse he endured there.  They may also appreciate learning about President Biden’s recent posthumous pardon of Garvey, and teachers may use this newsworthy development as an introduction to Marcus Garvey’s role in American history and world history.  Backmatter includes a list of 75  facts about Garvey and 20 quotes without any further context provided. --Jessica Fenster-Sparber

Philp, Geoffrey.  My Name is Marcus.  Kingston: Blue Banyan Books, 2024.  Print.

These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong

These Violent Delights takes one of the most recognizable stories - that of the lovers Romeo and Juliet - and twists it around.  Juliet and Roma belong to opposing families and although they were lovers in the past,  they’ve both been thrust into their family businesses and are now antagonists.  But when their respective gang members start to kill themselves rather than fight each other,  both Juliet and Roma have to discover what is happening before the "plague" destroys both their houses. Students who enjoy romance, suspense, or are interested in reading a take on a classic should be sure to pick up These Violent Delights.--Claudio Leon

Gong, Chloe. These Violent Delights. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2020. Print.

BLAME! by Tsutomu Nihei

In this captivating graphic novel humanity has lived within the megastructure for so long that its citizens have forgotten the real Earth. 

Kyrii seeks a unique gene in a world blurring the lines between biology and synthetic life. But the megastructure, a sentient entity, will stop him at any cost. What is the Net Terminal Gene? How vast is the megastructure? Can Kyrii succeed when anyone or anything can be turned against him? 

Blame! is a visual feast, relying heavily on graphic storytelling. Minimal text conveys its gritty, beautiful, and chaotic mechanical world. Manga and art lovers alike will appreciate the stunning artwork that drives the narrative.--Claudio Leon

Nihei, Tsutomu. BLAME! New York: Kodansha, 2004. Print

Conspiracy Theories: A Compendium of History’s Greatest Mysteries and More Recent Cover-ups by Jamie King

Ever wondered about the intrigue behind conspiracy theories but lacked the time to go down the rabbit holes? Conspiracy Theories offers a concise exploration of both renown and lesser-known conspiracies. Each theory is summarized in four pages or less, providing essential details for understanding the core concepts. 

While the book's brevity is a strength, it also limits its ability to debunk the theories, leaving readers to evaluate their credibility themselves.  Those seeking a quick introduction to conspiracy theories will find this book valuable, but it's important for the readers to remember that all the theories presented are speculative.--Claudio Leon

King, Jamie. Conspiracy Theories: A Compendium of History’s Greatest Mysteries and More Recent Cover-ups. London: Summersdale Publishers, 2020. Print

Halloween Papertoy Monsters Tradition Continues

photo credit: Jessica Fenster-Sparber

On Halloween we were happy to continue the tradition of offering a Papertoy Monster program inside of our school library at Belmont.  Students expressed their delight with this hands on activity and their enthusiasm to continue to craft the little creatures back at the house over the long weekend was infectious.  We are grateful to Literacy for Incarcerated Teens (LIT) for continuing to sustain this tradition with the book from Brian Castleforte.--Jessica Fenster-Sparber

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba by Koyoharu Gotouge

Tanjiro returns home too late to protect his mother and siblings from the night-hunting demons, only to discover that his sister has miraculously survived the attack. However, she is no longer the sister he once knew. 

Then Tanjiro sets out on a dangerous journey to cure his sister from the demon she’s become. His path is fraught with danger, as demons seek to kill him, and demon slayers aim to eliminate his sister. Can Tanjiro find a cure before they are hunted down? Is there even a cure to be found? With action-packed sequences reminiscent of Dragon Ball Z and character development and intertwining storylines similar to Naruto, there is something to appeal to everyone.--Claudio Leon

Gotouge, Koyoharu. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba. San Francisco: VIZ Media, 2016. Print.

Things We Couldn’t Say by Jay Coles

Gio is 17 and living with his preacher father and loving stepmother when his birth mother - who deserted the family eight years ago  - arrives back in  town and wants to see him and his younger brother Theo who suffers with PTSD.  

Gio is  getting through school and playing on the  basketball team, supported by his friends Olly and Ayesha, when his mother arrives on the scene.   And complicating  matters is a new student at Gio’s school who just arrived from Kansas,  is a painter,  also on the basketball team,  and also bi,  and who now may be Gio’s new crush.  

Brimming with emotional intelligence, author Coles invites the reader to empathize with Gio’s storm of difficult feelings as his birth mother makes a bid for his attention while romance with his new friend is in the air.  

Confident teen readers looking for realistic fiction and a little romance may enjoy this title from the author of Tyler Johnson Was Here.--Jessica Fenster-Sparber

Welcome Back!

 Welcome back everyone! School is back in session and so is our blog. Keep checking back as we’re excited for a whole new year of trips, special guests, activities and book reviews. We hope everyone had a restful summer and look forward to a fantastic new school year. --Claudio Leon

Be Back Soon!

 Thank you for visiting us!  We're taking a break and we'll be back in September with more book reviews and more of our regularly scheduled programming.

Batman: City Of Bane by Tom King, Tony S. Daniel, and Janin King

The Cape Crusader is missing and Gotham is being ruled by one of its worst enemies… Bane. With Batman gone the city has descended into chaos under the greatly feared Bane.  But all is not lost, Batman’s sidekicks are still around biding their time and waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. Will they come to Gotham’s rescue? Who will lead them against Bane’s army of supervillains? Batman and DC fans will enjoy reading this one. --Claudio Leon

Programming Spotlight: Dance Africa 2024

image from BAM's website

We were thrilled to have recently hosted the returning teaching artist Jayson P. Smith  from Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM). Jayson conducted a pre-theater dance workshop with an exceptionally engaged group of students who spent a special hour in the library as it was filled with the joy of movement and dance.  The students were preparing for a trip the following week to BAM’s annual Dance Africa performance.  You can read a bit about the tradition here.--Jessica Fenster-Sparber

The Crime Book: Big Ideas Simply Explained By DK

Would  you like to know about some of the biggest crimes ever committed? What about the most heinous? The most outlandish?

 If your answer is yes, then The Crime Book is for you! From bandits to political assassinations, The Crime Book covers all the who, what, when, where, how and why. 

Bite size information is given to the reader along with pictures, diagrams and other  graphics to help understand the crime and its impact on the world. Written at a middle school level, the book is accessible and interesting to all. Anyone with interests in history and crime should pick up The Crime Book! --Claudio Leon

DK. Crime Book. New York: DK PUBLISHING, 2021. Print

Hoop Kings 2: New Royalty by Charles R. Smith Jr.

When a new student recently told me  I should ”get a poetry book about LeBron James” I knew I’d found the perfect reader for Charles R. Smith Jr.’s Hoop Kings. All the copies of Hoop Kings copies were checked out from my site’s library but  I was happy to discover  that author Smith had published a sequel back in 2021 in the midst of the pandemic.

 Hoop Kings 2: New Royalty  is an appealingly  slim volume that includes  a poem entitled “Royalty” about none other than LeBron James.

Similar in style to the first  Hoop Kings, the bold graphic design of this sequel, the large size of the font, and the brevity,  specificity,  and rhythms of the ten or so poems are made entirely accessible to developing readers. 

The  backmatter includes poem notes and short paragraphs by the poet fleshing out a bit of his poetic process, thoughts, struggles and goals for each poem, a perfect snippet to help new, young poets think about their art.  Highly recommended for older emerging and developing readers who love basketball.  --Jessica Fenster-Sparber

Smith J., Charles R.  Hoop Kings 2: New Royalty.  Somerville: Candlewick Press, 2021.

Click here for a teaching guide from the publisher.  Contains a few ideas for content area applications in Social Studies, Math, and Art in addition to ELA/Writing.

Who Was the Greatest? Muhammad Ali by Gabe Soria, illustrated by Chris Brunner with colors by Rico Renzi

For comics fans who can’t get enough of Muhammad Ali, I highly recommend this short, punchy biography.  It’s a mix of comics narrated by Ali’s friend,  photographer, and biographer Howard Bingham.  Pages alternate between gorgeously coloured panels and non-fiction paragraphs about Joe Frazier, the Philipines, and professional boxing.  The actual fight is nearly wordless and thus perfect for discussions of sequences, storytelling, layout and perspective.  This book will be of interest to students of all ages and accessible to our younger readers, as well as a good fit for older ones looking for a short read.--Jessica Fenster-Sparber

Dragon Ball by Akira Toriyama

 

Before the sequel Dragon Ball Z  was Dragon Ball where  we follow the adventures of Goku, a boy with a taill, who loves to do nothing but eat and hunt.  That is until he meets Bulma who is seeking the Dragon Balls. 

Together the pair go in search of the magical spheres that can summon a great magical dragon who can grant a single wish. Goku and Bulma’s adventure leads them through some dangerous and at times comical situations when  every Dragon Ball they gather reveals a bit more of Goku’s true identity and power. --Claudio Leon

Toriyama, Akira. Dragon Ball. San Francisco: VIZ Media, 2003. Print.