All About Mohandas Gandhi

This slim little biography is perfect for kids. It's got large print, breaks down a big topic into simple talking points, has illustrations, and is a great introduction to the life of Gandhi. I knew the broad strokes of Gandhi's life but even I learned a lot about his early years in this book. This is very similar to the "Who Was" book series for kids and I believe there are lots of other biographies in this series. 

Kareem Between

I absolutely LOVED this book! It pulled at my heartstrings and covered so many timely topics. Kareem Between is a middle grade novel told in verse. Kareem is a Syrian American and all he wants to do is fit in and make the football team. When he is told he has to help a new Syrian student in school, he is resentful. That kid can hardly speak English, having to "babysit" him at school isn't going to help him fit in any better. If anything it will make him stand out even more. To make things more stressful, his mom is going back to Syria so she can bring her parents back with her to America. Kareem has never met them before but he has talked to them on the phone for his whole life. Things are tough when his mom leaves, but they get so much more tough when the president passes the Muslim ban and their mom can't come home. This book deals with xenophobia, bullying, family relationships, guilt, and hope. I absolutely LOVED this book.

Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude

A quick poetry collection that has depth and soul. I savored this collection one poem at a time over a few weeks. As a Hoosier, I've met Ross Ga at different literary events and he is a real nice man. I am more of an old school poetry lover and I am more used to rhymes o easy concepts. Some of these poems were really heavy and I had o re-read them to really let it sink into me. I would read more of his works. 

Freedom's Game

A little French orphanage in southern France isn't filled with much hope, but it is filled with one big secret; it's full of Jewish children in hiding in plain sight. It's 1942 and the war is in full swing. Twelve year olds, Elka and Ziggy have been on the run, moving from place to place trying to stay one step ahead of the Nazis. Hitler has taken over northern France and the children are scared that he is getting closer and closer. There isn't much in the way of food an blankets at the orphanage but the children have each other and they love their teachers. Well mostly. Ziggy is convinced that their new gym teacher is a spy, and Elka is convinced he is one of the good guys. When their new teacher wants to organize a sport competition, Elka can't wait to race; Ziggy on the other hand, has his reservations. Loosely based off of a true story; this tale of courage, friendship and faith is a great middle grade read.

Bree Boyd is a Legend

Admittedly, I've never read the first novel in this middle grade series, but that didn't impede my reading or understanding of this at all. Bree Boyd follows a young Black girl trying hard to make her father and family proud all while trying to be there for her friends, stay happy, and be true to herself. It's a story that everyone can relate to. To make matters worse though, Bree has started getting these weird tingles in her hand when she is upset or anxious. The tingles always proceed some kind of magical calamity and she has no idea how to control it or stop it. It keeps popping up at the most inopportune times though. And the pressure is only mounting as her father's political campaign takes shape, the spelling bee approaches, and her friends ask her for a big favor. What's a girl to do? Relatable and fun, this wholesome book is great for middle grade students. 

Katz Pajamas: The Holly Jolly Heist

This was the first book that I had read in the series. I'm not sure what order the books go in, but this might be the third? This is a cute, although overly punny, middle grade read. Katz Pajamas is a feline detective who has to work on his most unique case yet. A tiny little cat knocks on his office door and declares that Santa Claws has sent him to whisk Katz back to the North Pole to solve a mystery. According to the little elf cat, Santa's magic toy bag and the naughty and nice list have been taken! Katz Pajamas is honored to take the job and goes up north. He is overtaken with holiday cheer and happiness when he arrives. The North Pole is all he ever imagined and more. But now to find the culprit. This is a super quick read and kids will enjoy it. The formatting is a little unique, but it makes for quick reading. 

Dive

This was an exceptionally well done and thoughtful middle grade read. Dive follows Kass, a middle school student who has recently transferred to a private Catholic School so she can join their dive team. She's grateful for the opportunity, but she really misses her old run down public school, her best friend, and fitting in. She's an outsider, and a poor one at that. Her new classmates probably never have to hear their parents whisper arguing at night about money and worrying about business. Her parents own a restaurant and money is tight, she feels guilty that her parents are sacrificing so much to send her to a school she doesn't love. One day while waiting at the bus stop she meets, Miles. A high school drop out digging through the dumpster. The two form an unlikely friendship and soon he is showing her the ropes on scavenging and helping her realize, that there is someone always worse off then she is. Kass is convinced that no one will understand her relationship with Miles so she keeps him a secret and starts lying to her parents and skipping dive practice to hang out with him and dumpster dive. Sooner or later though, the truth will come out. Dive touches on a lot of timely topics and is a great read for kids!