Wrapping Up My June Reading

June 29, 202411 Comments

June has been a good reading month, 6 fiction books, 2 nonfiction, and 10 picture books. I’ll do another post about the the 74 books I’ve read so far in a few days, but let’s get to my favorites of the month.

Favorites

I already wrote a post about this being on my favorites list here. This was a reread for me.

I posted about this too. One of my favorites authors and series.

Posted my thoughts on this one here. Inspiring women.

Better Than Chocolate: 50 Proven Ways to Feel Happier by Siimon Reynolds and Jenny Kostecki, 4.25 stars, Self Help, 112 pages, 2005

Don’t worry, be happy! Everyone could use some tips on how to increase the happiness in their lives and this fun book is just the thing. I loved it and have a few new tips and resources to check out. The illustrations and short entries make it perfect for daily reflection time. They cover the obvious (excercise, laugh, be grateful, turn of screens) and the unexpected (develop discipline, understand buddhist theory, get in flow, seek internal goals).

Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code by Laurie Wallmark & Katy Wu. 4.5 stars, nonfiction picture book, 48 pages, 2017.

She was such an inspiration! Joining the Navy at 37 and retiring at 80, there probably won’t be another like her. Answers the question of why we call it a computer ‘bug’

Without Separation: Prejudice, Segregation, and the Case of Roberto Alvarez by Larry Dane Brimner & Maya Gonzalez. 4.25 stars, 40 pages, nonfiction picture book, 40 pages, 2021.

It’s about the 1931 case Roberto Alvarez v. The Board of Trustees of the Lemon Grove School District. I loved the story and the art and the 6 pages of photos and extra information at the end.

I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsberg Makes Her Mark by Debbie Levy and Elizabeth Baddeley. 4.25 stars, nonfiction picture book, 40 pages, 2016.

It starts with Ruth’s mother wanting more for her daughter and ends with her friendship with Antonin Scalia and showed everything she did in between to make this country one that treats women more fairly.

Also Good

The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James. 4 stars, Spooky thriller, 327 pages, 2020.

There is a creepy, sinister, and forgotten feeling you get when reading about Fell, NY and The Sun Down Hotel. There are ghosts, killers, and missing and murdered girls. The book is a whole vibe.

One storyline is about Viv in 1982 and the second is about her niece Carly in 2017. Lots of parallels and mystery that will keep you reading. There are even a few boys! It didn’t love this one at first, but it didn’t take me long to be hooked.

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. 4 stars, fiction, 360 pages, 2020

I saw it all over my feeds, my husband told me I had to read it, my book club read it (I missed that month), and it’s STILL taken me over a year to read it. A talking octopus wasn’t really calling to me. But, dang, if I didn’t fall for that eight armed smarty, Marcellus!

Alternating, but connected, storylines about several struggling humans and one bored cephalopod make this a sweet, healing debut novel. Did I love Marcellus? Of course! Did I read through the other parts to get to Marcellus? Yes! Did I like the rest of story? After reading all of the parts I did indeed like the book, BUT it didn’t quite live up to the hype for me. The small mysteries kept the plot moving along.

Finlay Donovan is Killing It by Elle Cosimano. 3.75 stars, mystery/thriller, 355 pages, 2021

I had a hard time getting into this one, but as it went on and I embraced the ridiculousness of a divorced mom with so little money her electric gets shut off becoming an inadvertent killer for hire. It ended up being fun, although I’m unlikely to continue with the series.

Understanding Sam and Asperger Syndrome by Calarabelle van Niekerk & Liezl Venter. 4.25 stars, fiction picture book, 48 pages, 2008.

The colorful illustrations brought this story about Sam to life. This talks about so many aspects of being on the autism spectrum, but all to highlight Sam. I loved this one and it starts before he even gets diagnosed with tips for neurotypical kids in the back.

Peace by Baptiste Paul, Miranda Paul & Esteli Meza. 4 stars, fiction picture book, 40 pages, 2021.

efinitely for the younger child. I loved these gorgeous illustrations so much! So many great things showing what peace is, like pronouncing your friend’s name correctly and giving far more than you take. The last page talked about how war and violence around the world affects wildlife and nature. A wonderful discussion starter.

I am an Aspie Girl: A book for young girls with autism spectrum conditions by Danuta Bulhak-Paterson & Teresa Ferguson. 3.5 stars. nonfiction picture book, 32 pages, 2015.

Good information for a younger girl to help understand her autism diagnosis.

She’s Not Sorry by Mary Kubica. 3.5 stars, Thriller, 330 pages, 2024

I took nurse Meaghan on a few walks this week and followed her story of caring for a coma patient while being concerned about Chicago’s serial attacker. I had a hard time connecting with Meghan and so the book was only okay for me. I liked the few twists in the second half of the book, but the end fell a little flat.

These were okay

Papa’s Mechanical Fish by Candace Fleming & Boris Kulikov. Fictional picture book about the man who made the first submarine.

Yetta the Trickster by Andrew Griffing Zimmerman and Harold Berson. Four trickster stories for younger kids.

Not for me, but maybe just right for you!

Summer Story: Brambly Hedge by Jill Barklem, fiction picture book for young children.

The Big Book of Butts by Eva Manzano and Emilio Urberuaga, silly nonfiction picture book.

A Favorite Series – Prey Series by John Sandford

June 22, 2024June 22, 20244 Comments

The first of the Lucas Davenport series, Rules, of Prey, was published in 1989 and the most recent, Toxic Prey, this year. If you like police procedurals and thrillers, this is the series for you. I’ve read them all and there’s not a dud in the bunch. The last one felt especially timely and scary since it seems like it could actually happen.

He started as a Minneapolis detective, then worked special cases for politicians, and now he’s a US marshal. I love that he’s a tough guy, but he always has me rethinking moral decisions. He talks politics in relation to his job, but takes no side, a rarity. We’ve watched him meet his wife, adopt a child from a case, and have kids of his own. His friend Virgil Flowers and daughter Letty each have their own series, but I don’t read them. They both show up in this one so I don’t have to.

You can jump in anywhere in the series, but this is one that’s fun to read from the beginning.

I didn’t start reviewing them on here until book #24, but here are a few things I’ve said about the series…

Lucas, a detective, handles only those cases that the politicos need to have disappear. His role is more of a mentor as he works with the police all over Minnesota, but he still manages to get his hands dirty. He is great at what he does and possesses an authority that others look to in a time of crisis.

In this 25th book of the series, there is a shift of sorts that signals changes are afoot and it’s been this progression of Lucas that has made this a standout, must read series for me. As he turns 50 and the winds of local politics change direction it’s clear that Lucas has some decisions to make. This case involves his adopted daughter, Letty, and I love that she has had larger roles in the last few books.

More of my other Top 100 series picks here.

Favorite Book – The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

June 12, 20247 Comments

The Shadow of the Wind. 5/5 stars, Historical Thriller, 487 pages, 2005

This is a place of mystery, Daniel, a sanctuary. Every book, every volume you see here, has a soul. The soul of the person who wrote it and of those who read it and lived and dreamed with it. Every time a book changes hands, every time someone runs his eyes down its pages, its spirit grows and strengthens….When a library disappears, or a bookshop closes down, when a book is consigned to oblivion, those of us who know this place, its guardians, make sure that it gets here. In this place, books no longer remembered by anyone, books that are lost in time, live forever, waiting for the day when they will reach a new reader’s hands. In the shop we buy and sell them, but in truth books have no owner. Every book you see here has been somebody’s best friend. Now they have only us, Daniel. Do you think you’ll be able to keep such a secret?” (p 5)

This is my review from when I first read this in 2010…

This is a book for book lovers just in case you couldn’t tell from the passage above. In 1945, Daniel is just a boy when his father takes him to the Cemetery of Forgotten Books hidden in the back streets of Barcelona and when his obsession with the mysterious author, Julian Carax begins. Daniel chose The Shadow of Wind to take home and he soon began to search out other Carax titles. Only there weren’t any. Someone had been destroying them all one by one. Daniel was sixteen when he began to search out the books in earnest and he was aided in his quest by the cagey and charming Fermin.

I couldn’t help but fall in love with Daniel and Fermin and I was drawn into the mess they got themselves into when they started asking questions about Carax. Why were so many people trying to keep the truth hidden? And who were the good guys? The characters they meet along the way heightened the suspense and I loved them all (well, I loved their addition to the story!).

I have the attention span of a gnat these days, but this book kept me reading every spare moment I had, even if it was only a few minutes at a time. I loved the drama, the mystery, the love, the Spanish setting, the wide cast of characters, and the love and respect of books shown in the story. This book has a little bit of everything and I loved it. Since I’m rating this a 5 it is obviously one of my favorites this year!

I’ve spent the last week listening to the audio and much of what I loved the first time was still there. The atmosphere, the characters, the stories, the mystery, and the absolute devotion to the written word all combine to make this a great read. I liked experiencing the book a second time and think the reading the words on the page is the way to go with this one. I’m keeping the book on my favorites list for now as I try to work through what belongs there and why, but I’m not sure it will stay.

“Books are mirrors – you only see in them what you already have inside you.”

“In the shop we buy and sell them, but in truth books have no owner. Every book you see here has been somebody’s best friend.”

Top 100 Fiction Books list

Favorite Author – Harlan Coben

June 6, 20249 Comments

I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Harlan four times, once in Houston and three times when he’s come to Cleveland. He is ALWAYS a hoot. He is charming, smart, and quick with the humor. You will never regret seeing him in person. I’ve read all of his books and have liked them all, some more than others. I first read Tell No One, a great place to start if you’ve never read him, and then read his first book and haven’t looking back.

Even if you’ve never read his books, you’ve probably seen at least one of his book adaptations on Netflix or Amazon Prime. They are always well done.

His thrillers are always full of twists and turns, humor, and fantastic dialogue. If you love thrillers, the kind that you can’t put down until you’re finished, this is the guy for you.

Myron Bolitar series (Harlan calls them the Myron and Win books)

Myron is a smart ass, but one with a certain humanity and goodness and I am always rooting for him and his even bigger smart ass friend, Win, to save the day. And they usually do, but they do not come away unscathed. Myron is the heart and Win is the muscle and both are whip smart and loyal to each other. This series has a fantastic cast of characters and I love that time does go by and they are showing their age, but still kicking ass. I love all of these books.

Win got his own first person book.

And Myron’s nephew Mickey has his own trilogy. This was made into a fantastic series on Amazon Prime.

Wilde series

So far this only has two books, but I loved them both.

Standalones

Here are my other Top 100 authors.

A Favorite Series – Jack Reacher by Lee Child (& Andrew Child)

January 20, 20248 Comments

Jack Reacher is an iconic character. Even if you’ve never read a book in the series (28 books and counting) you may have heard of the two Tom Cruise movies where he played the antihero and divided a rabid fanbase. For me, Tom Cruise is no Reacher. Jason and I just finished season 2 of the Amazon series, Reacher, where Alan Richson deftly plays the larger than life killing machine with his own moral code. The series is good.

Jack Reacher is an ex-military cop who is roaming the United States, seeing the country he barely knows after a lifetime (36 years) spent on military bases around the world. From one of my reviews, “Jack Reacher is a man’s man, but one that women are drawn to because of his sheer masculinity and unavailability. He is who he is, take him or leave him and that confidence and physical presence makes him a force to be reckoned with.”

Why should you be reading the Jack Reacher series? Because he’s alpha male dreamy. He isn’t held back by rules but is ruled by what is good and just and he’s not afraid to get his hands dirty in the pursuit of justice. He’s a tall, commanding man who, if you count the number of women he’s charmed out of their clothes, knows his way around a woman’s body.

Read if you like – Drifters with a hero complex, larger than life characters who say as little as possible, justice being served no matter how many get hurt, and don’t mind lots of violence.

#11 Bad Luck and Trouble

#22 The Midnight Line

#27 No Plan B

#28 The Secret

#29 In Too Deep

Any other Reacher fans out there?

A Favorite Series – Cormoran Strike by Robert Galbraith

January 13, 20246 Comments

Like most readers of Harry Potter, I love JK Rowling books and when I started seeing the reviews for this series I knew I’d have to give her a post HP chance to win me over. And she did. I love this series.

I love Cormoran Strike. I loved him in the first of the series and I’ve loved him in every one since. He’s smart, grumpy and a hero who came back to London after losing a foot in Afghanistan. He could have milked the media because of his being the (illegitimate) son of a famous rock star, but he chose, instead, to live a life of purpose. He’s a bit of a mess but an honest and earnest one. He and his partner Robin’s relationship is the heart and soul of this this series.

I love the narration by Robert Glenister. He became Strike for me so I’ve listened to all 7 books (so far) on audio. I totally recommend trying the first one and seeing if you like it.

Read if you like– well plotted thrillers, disability front and center, the possibility of a workplace romance, grouchy yet smart private detectives, big big books, or mysteries set in London.

I do think that you need to read these in order to appreciate them.

#1 The Cuckoo’s Calling

#6 The Ink Black Heart

#7 The Running Grave

Eagerly awaiting more in the series!

Any other Cormoran Strike fans out there?

My Favorite Movies of 2023

December 30, 20233 Comments

That title is a bit misleading. I watched 49 movies this year and these are my 5 favorites. Only two of them came out in 2023.

I’d like to watch some really good movies in 2024, so please leave me a few of your favorites in the comments.

Peanut Butter Falcon, 2019 (Shia LaBouf, Zack Gottsagen. Dakota Fanning, John Hawkes, Bruce Dern, John Bernthal, Thomas Haden Church, Yelawolf) Grade A

Everyone deserves to be seen.

Air, 2023 (Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Jason Bateman, Marlon Wayans, Chris Tucker, Viola Davis, Chris Messina) Grade A

Is MJ really MJ without his Jordans?

Joker, 2019 (Joaquin Phoenix, Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz, Frances Conroy) Grade A

Mesmerizing, horrifying, & everything in between.

Moxie, 2021 (Hadley Robinson, Alycia Pascual-Pena, Lauren Tsai, Nico Hirago, Patrick Schwarzeneggar, Amy Poehler) Grade A-

High schoolers leading cultural change.

True Spirit, 2023 (Teagan Croft, Cliff Curtis, Anna Paquin, Josh Lawson) Grade A

Inspiring true life sailing adventure.

2023 The best of the rest

December 28, 2023Leave a comment

So many good books this year! You can find my picture book recs here, here, and here. My middle school recommendations here. My adult fiction 5 stars here.

Now for my nonfiction, graphic novel, and high school favorites.

YA Nonfiction

Spare Parts: The True Story of Four Undocumented Teenages, One Ugly Robot, and an Impossible Dream) young readers version) by Joshua Davis and Reyna Grande. 160 pages, 2023

These 4 boys were in high school when they beat college teams, including MIT, in a national robotics competition. It starts with telling you how they came to be in the US, how they found family in the robotics room, and where they are now 20 years later. Middle school/teens. Highly recommend for adults too.

Work With What You Got by Zion Clark with James S Hirsch. 240 pages, 2023

Many of you may have heard of Zion Clark, a short documentary on his life was number one on Netflix. He was born with no legs to a mother in jail with an unknown father. He got bounced around Ohio’s foster care system before finally being adopted at the age of 17. He made headlines in his senior year of high school when he started winning wrestling matches.

Zion grew up in the Canton/Massillon area, less than an hour from where I live so this was a local story for me. But even if it wasn’t I would’ve been so moved my his story and spirit. I think that all teens would benefit from reading such a powerful story of perseverance. And adults should read it too!

Nonfiction

On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons From the Twentieth Century by Timothy Snyder, illustrator Nora Krug. 128 pages, 2017

This was my first book of 2023 and there were my thoughts when I first posted about it on IG.

My first book of the year is also perfectly suited for today, January 6. On Tyranny, Graphic Edition: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century by Professor Timothy Snyder, illustrated by Nora Krug is an important read, especially as we reflect on this day 2 years ago when our democracy was under attack from within. Drawing in the histories of Hitler, Stalin, Churchill, and others, Snyder provides stark similarities to things happening in the United States.

An important read for every American, no matter your political leanings.

#10 “Believe in truth. To abandon facts is to abandon freedom. You submit to tyranny when you renounce the difference between what you want to hear and what is actually the case. Post-truth is pre-racism”

I’ve posted more excerpts on my blog so I recommend clicking over there. Get your eyes on a copy and learn, dissect, and come away with a renewed sense of what it means to be a citizen of a functioning democracy and what that demands from us in return.

Taking the Leap by Pema Chodron. 128 pages, 2009

Just some quotes to whet your whistle.

“Natural warmth has the power to heal all relationships-the relationship with ourselves as well as with people, animals, and all that we encounter every day of our lives.”

“We’re like an ostrich sticking its head in the sand in hopes of finding comfort. This running away from all that is unpleasant, this continual cycle of avoiding the present, is referred to as self-absorption, self-clinging, or ego.”

“We’re all looking for a permanent reference point, and it doesn’t exist. Everything is impermanent. Everything is always changing- fluid, unfixed, and open. Nothing is pin-down-able the way we’d like it to be. This is not actually bad news, but we all seem programmed for denial. We have absolutely no tolerance for uncertainty.”

Seeing With Our Souls: Monastic Wisdom for Every Day by Joan Chittister. 124 pages, 2002

Joan Chittister, a Benedictine sister, writes with such grace and wisdom about topics perfect for my meditative time. Vision, an understanding heart, humility, soul, holy indifference, gentleness of spirit, imagination, questioning, emotional stability, purity of heart, inclusion, and nature of the heroic in life are the chapters you’ll find.

I’ll leave you with a few quotes…
“Compassion is the ability to understand how difficult it is for people to be the best of what they want to be at all times.”

“We’re not here to suppress the gifts of others in order to make room for our own. We’re here to put all the gifts of humankind into the great pool of humanity so that, because of the gifts of each of us, we can all live better in the end.”

“There are too many people trying to get into Heaven who have yet to muster the amount of soul it takes to appreciate all the life there is on earth.”

“People who refuse to question all of the assumptions that underpin the way they live-on the grounds that to ask is a violation of faith-are people, ironically, who want cheap answers, not hard faith at all.”

Notes on a Nervous Planet by Matt Haig. 288 pages, 2018

“The societies we live in are increasingly making our minds ill, making it feel as though the way we live is engineered to make us unhappy. When Matt Haig developed panic disorder, anxiety, and depression as an adult, it took him a long time to work out the ways the external world could impact his mental health in both positive and negative ways. Notes on a Nervous Planet collects his observations, taking a look at how the various social, commercial and technological “advancements” that have created the world we now live in can actually hinder our happiness.” from Goodreads

Humans of New York by Brandon Stanton. 304 pages, 2013

I’m sure most of you have seen Humans of New York online. Brandon Stanton started taking photos of people in various cities along with a caption or story and his blog gained traction. By the time his camera found the humanity and exuberant essence of NYC, people were paying attention. And still are. This book was originally published in 2013. I loved every bit of it. The people, the quick story, the quote, the photos.

James & Other Apes by James Mollison. 112 pages, 2004

I can stare at these faces for days. In this over sized picture book, James & Other Apes, James Mollison exquisitely captures these 50 apes found in sanctuaries around the world. They are seen on all of their primate glory. The eyes are the window to the soul, after all. They are each identified by names with short bios at the end of the book.

Graphic Novels

Brazen: Rebel Ladies Who Rocked the World by Penelope Bagieu. 296 pages, 2018

The graphic biography all ‘ladies’ and the people who love them need to read. Even if you don’t read graphic novels you will want to get your eyes on this one.

I LOVED the art, but also the women included. I knew many, like Temple Grandin and Hedy Lamar, but there so many new names to me, like Agnodice, Clementine Delait the Bearded Lady, and Nazis Al Abid. I learned more about Margaret Hamilton and Mae Jemison.

Flung Out of Space: Inspired by the Indecent Adventures of Patricia Highsmith by Grace Ellis, illustrator Hannah Templar. 208 pages, 2022

This is a graphic bio of the time when she wrote Strangers on a Train and the lesbian thriller A Pinch of Salt under a pseudonym. A Pinch of Salt was later retitled Carol and is known for having the first happy ending gay characters had gotten in books.

Loved the book and recommend it. It was the Author’s Note at the beginning that hooked me. I left out more good stuff for brevity.

“This is a story I believe is worth telling. That being said, I want to be clear: The protagonist of this story is not a good person. She was deeply anti-Semitic, racist, and misogynistic, even by the standards of her time. I’m not being hyperbolic when I say that many of her beliefs were nothing short of evil…

A Wealth of Pigeons: A Cartoon Collection by Harry Bliss and Steve Martin. 272 pages, 2020

What a fun book this is! If you love Steve Martin’s humor and New Yorker covers you are going to get many chuckles at the mostly single panel funnies in this collection.

Interspersed amongst the rest is the story of Steve Martin and Harry Bliss, told in comic style, and how they came to put together this book. My favorite is when they were checking each other for ticks. It’s a great 20-30 minute read, sure to make you chuckle.

2023 Five Star Picture Book (nonfiction) Part Two

December 27, 20231 Comment

It’s been another crazy year of reading, with my current total at 343. Much of that has been kids/teens reading through homeschooling and Cybils Awards first round panelist reading. So, like last year, I’m not picking favorites but highlighting my 5 star reads by category.

Since I read over 100 nonfiction picture books for Cybils alone, this will be two separate posts (part one is here) SO MANY fantastic books!

The Glorious Forest That Fire Built by Ginny Neal. 32 pages, 2023

Simple yet powerful book about the very timely subject of forest fires and how we need trees. Geared for younger elementary.

On a Flake-Flying Day by Buffy Silverman. 32 pages, 2023

Beautiful, high interest photographs with equally beautiful words for vocabulary building. Geared for younger elementary.

Moving the Millers’ Minnie Moore Mine Mansion by Dave Eggers, illustrator Julia Sarda. 56 pages, 2023

This little forgotten story was made great fun by the humor of the words and illustrations. The mother and her son lived in the house as it was being rolled to a different location – for a whole month!

An American Story by Kwame Alexander, illustrator Dare Coulter. 56 pages, 2023

It’s a beautifully illustrated book that will generate great discussion no matter how old your child is. Alexander wrote this book after a conversation with his daughter’s teacher when he asked why she was teaching about the 13 colonies without talking about slavery. It belongs on all of the shelves! The illustrations were a mix of sketches, paints, and clay figures.

We Are Branches by Joyce Sidman, Beth Krommes illustrator. 40 pages, 2023

I’m obsessed with the illustrations in this book! Perfect for early elementary nature lovers.

Digestion: The Musical by Adam Rex, illustrator Laura Park. 76 pages, 2022

Delightful, bizarre, goofy – all things a musical can be. Lots of kid appeal.

Glitter Everywhere! by Chris Barton. 48 pages, 2023

Science, history, fun, and concern for the future combine to make this a flittery, glittery home run.

Checkmate! by John Foley. 112 pages, 2023

This is listed as elementary level, but it’s really for any kid just getting started.

Stranded!: A Mostly True Story from Iceland by Aevar Por Benediktsson, illustrator Anne Wilson. 32 pages, 2023

This funny and scary story about two men exploring an island just made from an active volcano is fun for all.

Rice From Heaven: The Secret Mission to Feed North Korea by Tina Cho. 40 pages 2018

A great inspiration for kids to show what a small group of individuals can do. I loved the details and photos at the end.

Cicada Symphony by Sue Fliess. 32 pages, 2023

A perfect book for younger elementary with outstanding illustrations which is the real showcase here.

Finding Family: The Duckling Raised By Loons by Laura Purdie Salas, illustrator Alexandria Neonakis. 32 pages, 2023

A delightful little story about family.

Inky’s Amazing Escape: How a Very Smart Octopus Found His Way Home by Sy Montgomery, illustrator Amy Schimler-Safford. 32 pages, 2018

A colorful story of a real-life escape artist octopus. The story is perfect for younger kids and the end notes satisfy the older ones.

Sniffer & Tinni by Berit Helberg, photographer Torgeir Berge. 40 pages, 2016

The story of a true life friendship between a dog and a fox told with photographs. Sure to delight elementary school animal lovers.

Meet the Bears by Kate Peridot and Becca Hall. 48 pages, 2023

A sweet comparison of different kinds of bears and where they live.

You and the Bowerbird by Maria Gainferrari, illustrator Maris Wicks. 48 pages, 2023

Simple yet fun for younger elementary kids with just the right amount of additional info at the end.

Circle by Jeannie Baker. 48 pages, 2016

Gorgeous illustrations demonstrating bird migration from New Zealand.

2023 Five Star Picture Books (nonfiction)

December 26, 20233 Comments

Since I read over 100 nonfiction books for Cybils alone, this will be two separate posts. SO MANY fantastic books! Let’s start with the ones told about specific people. The first two are my favorites.

The Indestructible Tom Crean: Heroic Explorer of the Antarctic by Jennifer Thermes. 56 pages, 2023

Gage and I studied Antarctica this year so I was so excited to see this book on the Cybils first round reading list. I love everyhing about this book. Tom has many dangerous adventures exploring Antarctica. If cats have 9 lives, I think Tom may have been part cat. Sure to please any adventure loving kid.

A Bowl of Peace: A True Story by Caren Stelson and Akira Kusaka. 40 pages, 2020

What a beautiful, heartbreaking, gut wrenching, hopeful picture book about Sachiko Yasui, a survivor of the atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki, Japan during WWII.

Sachiko and her family always ate out of her grandmother’s bowl, filling it with the delicacies of the region, until the war forced plainer fare. At 6, she was half a mile from ground zero. It killed all of her playmates and one of her siblings. Two of her brothers died soon after from radiation exposure.

When the family went back 2 years later they found her grandmother’s bowl in the rubble of their home, unscathed. Every August 9, first her mother and then she, put ice in the bowl to remember those last.

I cannot recommend this book enough for your middle schooler, but be prepared to talk about death and the ugliness of war. Gage knew the details of the war but this story really brought the people to life.

Sachiko outlived her family and died in 2021 at the age of 83. I’ll be feeling this book for awhile.

Ice Cream Man: How Agustus Jackson Made a Sweet Treat Better by Glenda Armand and Kim Freeman, illustrator Keith Mallett. 40 pages, 2023

In 1820, at just 12 years old, he made his way from Philadelphia to the White House to work in the kitchen. He served 3 presidents before heading home and opening up his own ice cream shop where his innovation led to shipping ice cream to other cities.

Tiny Jumper: How Tiny Broadwick Created the Parachute Rip Cord by Candy Dahl, illustrator Maithili Joshi. 40 pages, 2023

Performing in the air from a young age, Tiny Broadwick became the first woman to parachute from an airplane. Often overlooked because of her size, she proved underestimating her only made her work harder. Inspiring.

One City, Two Brothers by Chris Smith, illustrator Aurelia Fronty. 32 pages, 2007

This folktale of how Jerusalem came to be is beautifully told and illustrated.

Sisters in Science: Marie Curie, Bronia Dluska, and the Atomic Power of Sisterhood by Linda Elovitz Marshall and Anna & Elena Balbusso. 40 pages, 2023

Most of us know about Marie Curie. This is the story of Marie and her sister Bronia, successful in her own right.

Beulah Has a Hunch!: Inside the Colorful Mind of Master Inventor Beulah Louise Henry by Katie Mazeika. 40 pages, 2023

“Beulah’s brain worked differently. She had hyperphantasia, which meant she saw things in extreme detail in her mind, as well as synesthesia, which caused words and numbers and even music notes to show up as different colors in her brain. Beulah’s unique way of seeing the world helped her think up vivid solutions to problems—her hunches came to her fully formed with gears whirring and wheels spinning. She invented everything from a new and improved parasol to cuddly stuffed animals and from ice cream makers to factory machinery. Beulah’s inventions improved daily life in lots of ways, earning her the nickname “Lady Edison,” and she became one of the most prolific inventors in American history.” from Goodreads.

My Night in the Planetarium: A True Story About a Child, a Play, and the Art of Resistance by Innosanto Nagara. 24 pages, 2016

My Night in the Planetarium tells a bit of the country’s history and politics (like a few pages worth, so it’s not overwhelming) with true experiences of the author’s childhood during the resistance.

Gage and I both loved the humor and conversational flow. I especially loved the real photos that were included and what happened after the night in the planetarium when the government police came for his family. Highly recommend for the older elementary and above reader.

Just One Pebble: One Boy’s Quest to End Hunger by Dianna Wilson Sirkovsky, illustrator Sara Casilda. 32 pages, 2023

An inspiring 9 year old who saw a problem and didn’t look away.

To Boldly Go: How Nichelle Nichols and Star Trek Helped Advance Civil Rights by Angela Dalton, illustrator Lauren Semmer. 40 pages, 2023

In the 1960s she became a trailblazer as the first black woman on the TV show Star Trek, and she used her platform to make a huge impact for women in STEM. I loved reading Martin Luther King Jr.’s influence. And I just this cover!

King Sejong Invents and Alphabet by Carol Kim, illustrator Cindy Kang. 32 pages, 2021

This tells how the 15th century king wanted ALL Koreans to be able to read and write. Knowledge is Power.

Zhang Zheng and the Incredible Earthquake Detector by Randal McGee. 32 pages, 2021

The Emperor tasks Zhang Zheng with finding a way for the those in charge to know when deadly earthquakes have taken place. Great story and fabulous illustrations.

Just Being Dali: The Story of Artist Salvador Dali by Amy Gullielmo, illustrator Brett Helquist. 40 pages, 2021

A fantastic book with excellent illustrations. The recurring theme was no matter what people said Salvador Dali just kept being himself. This was one of those quick reads when we studied Spain.

Never Give Up: Dr. Kati Kariko and the Race for the Future of Vaccines by Debbie Dadey, illustrator Juliana Oakley. 40 pages, 2023

“She became fascinated by science as a child and grew up determined to find a way to use messenger RNA―a copy of a part of DNA that provides cells with instructions to make proteins―to help fight illness. An mRNA vaccine had never been made before, and she faced frequent criticism and was told by other scientists she would never succeed. Kariko refused to give up her research, and when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, she played a critical role in developing the successful Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA vaccine faster than any other vaccine in history.” from Goodreads

Stacy's Books

books, movies, and boy

Category: lists