Arc Review: Once Upon a Camel by Kathi Appelt

Image: Simon & Schuster

Once Upon a Camel by Kathi Appelt. Illustrated by Eric Rohmann. 326 p. A Caitlyn Dlouhy Book/ Atheneum Books for Young Readers/ Simon & Schuster, September 7, 2021. 9781534406438. (Review of arc courtesy of Blue Slip Media.)

Zada is an elderly camel who lives in the desert in Texas with her found family headed by kestrels, Pardo and Perlita. She's awakened abruptly one morning by a hysterical Perlita babbling about an approaching mountain. Turns out, that mountain is a dust storm, a haboob (Yes, I had to look that up), and it's heading toward the cottonwood tree the family have made their home. What's more, Pardo and Perlita have two unfledged chicks in their nest that need protecting! 

The frantic kestrel parents entrust the care of Beulah and Wims to Zada before they are blown upwards into the windstorm. The two chicks nestle down into the hair on top of Zada's head and the trio sets off to the Mission. While Zada has made the trip to the mission many times, never has she done so in the middle of a windstorm and never on such achy legs and certainly not with two fidgety chicks balanced on her head! But she is an honorable camel and a fine auntie and will not Pardo and Perlita down. But what to do to keep Wims and Beulah occupied? She tells them stories.

This is when the narrative flashes back from 1910, West Texas to Smyrna, Turkey in 1850. Do the math, Zada is old! Together with Asiye, Zada was born into the Pasha's racing stables and are destined to race for him. Under the tutelage of gentle Teodor, the two camel best friends thrive and strive to be their very fastest in service of the Pasha. How then, does Zada end up in America? You'll need to read this luscious, atmospheric story-within-a-story to find out. 

And, did you notice in the publication information up top that the book was illustrated by Eric Rohmann? This was the whipped cream and cherry on top of your favorite sundae! Here's a photo of one particularly arresting bit of art among many:

I'm a huge fan of Ms. Appelt. Her books are basically automatic purchases for me. I love her unhurried storytelling. It's rich and lyrical and perfect for reading aloud. She must've done a tremendous amount of research. I spent a fair amount of time looking up unfamiliar words, including the pronunciation of Asiye's name. Young readers' vocabulary will be enriched as Ms. Appelt steeps the reader in two countries/ cultures. 

There are moments of danger and suspense. There will be tears but there are many moments of humor, much of it laugh-out-loud. I closed the book with a satisfied sigh and cannot wait to reread it with my ears. 

Blog Tour and Arc Review: The Law of Finders Keepers by Sheila Turnage

The Law of Finders Keepers by Sheila Turnage. 360 p. A Mo & Dale Mystery #4. Kathy Dawson Books/ Penguin Young Readers, September 11, 2018. 9780803739628. (Review from arc courtesy of publisher.)

If ever there was a series I never wanted to end, it is this one. Mo and Dale reside in my heart next to Moose Flanagan, Heidi It and only one or two other characters. A visit to Tupelo Landing makes all right in this crazy world. Indeed, the town is very nearly a character! It is a place kind of frozen in time. A place where everyone knows everyone. If one were to sneeze at one end of town, another would say, "Bless you!" on the other end. A place where kids ride their bikes and leave them unlocked in driveways and against fences. 

The Law of Finders Keepers can stand alone. But if you have not read the three earlier books in the Mo & Dale Mystery series, you are missing out. 

Sixth graders Mo LoBeau and her partners, Dale and Harm are the Desperado Detectives. Mo continues to search for her "Upstream Mother" and writes letters to her faithfully. The Desperado's newest case arrives when snow and a treasure hunter named Gabriel Archer blow into town. It seems that Tupelo Landing and the dastardly pirate, Blackbeard have history. It may just be that Blackbeard buried his lost treasure in Tupelo Landing. Everyone's going treasure hunt crazy and it's bringing out the worst in some residents. Crimes are being committed. Mo is also dealing with some new clues in her search for "Upstream Mother" on top of it all.

Turnage's storytelling is masterful as she juggles her large, eccentric and colorful cast of characters. I feel like I could amble into Miss Lana's cafe, grab a seat at the counter and recognize everyone who walks in the door! The rich dialogue is at turns amusing and dramatic as clues and suspense mount. I just adore the friendship between Mo and Dale and Harm. Dale just cracks me up and I admire how Mo and Harm gently help him. I am curious about the adults they will grow up to be. 

So readers, sadly, it is over. We bid goodbye to Tupelo Landing with a tear or two and many laughs. The Law of Finders Keepers is a perfect conclusion to an absolutely must-read series. 

Blog Tour Picture Book Review: It's Show and Tell, Dexter! by Lindsay Ward

It's Show and Tell, Dexter! by Lindsay Ward. unpgd. Dexter T. Rexter series #2. Two Lions/ Amazon Publishing, July 2018. 9781503901377.

Our favorite orange dino is back! Is he still prone to panic attacks? Dexter T. Rex is Jack's favorite toy and he has been training for "show and tell day" at Jack's school for weeks. Now that the big day is imminent, Dexter is starting to worry about his big day. He wants to make a big splash and be memorable, but doubts he's good enough.

Dexter reveals that his tummy hurts and his claws are clammy just thinking about failing Jack. Readers who might have anxiety issues themselves will relate to Dexter. All readers will cheer him on and reassure him that just being himself is really enough. Who doesn't worry about impressing at show and tell?

The palette is still bright yellows and blues, allowing Dexter's orange exuberance to pop. The cut paper collages and blue backgrounds are textured and eye-catching. Little details, such as a bunny nose and too-tight bunny suit, amuse. Since Dexter is speaking right to the reader, this invites energetic responses to Dexter's worries, making this a fun choice for story-time.  

Visit Lindsay Ward's website for more about Dexter and her other books. She has a coloring page too! There's also a cute trailer. 

Welcome back Dexter! Hope to see you again soon!

Blog Tour/ Book Review: Don't Forget Dexter by Lindsay Ward

Don't Forget Dexter by Lindsay Ward. Unpgd. Two Lions/ Amazon Publishing, January, 2018. 9781542047272. (Review from finished copy courtesy of publicist, Blue Slip Media.)

Dexter the T-Rexter is big and strong and has a best friend named Jack who takes him everywhere, even the doctor's office. Poor Dexter is not-so-tough as he freaks out when he realizes that he's been left behind! One minute he was happily coloring and the next moment, he looked up and Jack was gone! His amusing stream-of-consciousness is successively anxious/ obnoxious as he works himself up into a full-blown panic attack/ tantrum. Perhaps Jack has found himself a new toy to like? The horror!

The palette of the ink, color pencil and cut paper illustrations veer a bit to pastels with Dexter featured in brilliant orange tones. Don't skip the dedication/ copyright pages because the story starts there. This story of a lost and found object will resonate with both parents and children who have lost and found/ not found a beloved toy or comfort object. The fact that the story is told from the POV of the toy, which perfectly mirrors the behavior a human child would exhibit in the same situation is comic genius.

According to the jacket flap, the story was inspired by the author's husband who took a picture of a left-behind toy in a doctor's office and captioned it, "Well, they left me here." Dexter is endearingly anxious and Don't Forget Dexter is the first in a possible series, with It's Show and Tell, Dexter! due to publish July 17 according to the author's website. I recommend that you start from the home page as this site is particularly well-designed. There will be activities linked to the Don't Forget Dexter page soon. 

Don't miss Don't Forget Dexter! 

Blog Tour Review: I am (Not) Scared by Anna Kang. Illustrated by Christopher Weyant

I am (Not) Scared by Anna Kang. Illustrated by Christopher Weyant. unpgd. Two Lions/ Amazon Publishing, March 21, 2017. 9781503947451. (Finished copy courtesy of Blue Slip Media)

Happy book birthday tomorrow to I am (Not) Scared! The husband and wife team who brought us the delightful, Geisel Award winning You are (Not) Small and the equally delightful That's (Not) Mine, are back with the perfect book about conquering fear. 

Neither furry creature looks particularly happy on the cover. Our Mutt and Jeff bear friends are headed to the amusement park. Little purple bear looks happy and big brown bear does not. Little bear announces, "You are scared." Big bear denies this and asks, "Are you?" Little bear asserts that he is brave and states, "You look scared."

Big bear admits, "...maybe a little." We learn that the two are waiting to ride the LOOP OF DOOM. Little bear says there are much scarier things than rides...like snakes. The two friends imagine other scary things before coming face-to-face with the car they need to ride the roller coaster in. What's in the car? A snake! He's just ridden the roller coaster and wants to go again!

Simple sentences, plenty of white space and adorable pen and ink and water color illustrations convey the thrilling terror that a ride on a roller coaster, as well as other fears, can bring. The kids I read this to were unfamiliar with the two previous books. They were so taken by our two furry friends that they immediately demanded that I order the first two for their next read aloud. A spontaneous discussion of fears arose in a natural and comfortable way. 

Visit the author's website or click here for an activity guide. Visit the illustrator's website here.

All three books are adorable, hilarious and absolutely first-purchases! 

Blog Tour - Arc Review: Truth or Dare by Barbara Dee

Truth or Dare: five girls, one summer, many secrets by Barbara Dee. 256 p. Aladdin, September 20, 2016. 9781481459686. (Review from arc courtesy of author.)

One of the things I love about writing reviews to my blog (or Goodreads) is that I can get really personal. As I sat at my computer pondering what I would write about Truth or Dare, a memory burst unbidden. Gym class at my catholic school: fifth or sixth grade. We girls (boys took gym with the school's lone male teach downstairs) were all lined up for some activity when Mary Margaret burst into tears. The teacher took her aside whispering. Mary Margaret left the gym. Judy, a girl a year older than us because she was left back (those were the days when kids were retained), sagely commented, "Mary Margaret has her friend." Thinking I misheard, I asked, "What's wrong with her friend?" Judy sneered, "Don't you know what a friend is?"

Now, Judy terrified me. She always seemed angry. I didn't make the connection then what the impact of being in the same grade as her younger sister had on her. She was tough, cool and had a posse of followers. Thankfully, she did not announce it loudly. She whispered it to the girl on the other side, who whispered it to the girl next to her. Soon every girl in my gym class knew that I had no idea what a friend was. 

So I asked my mom when I got home. I am the oldest of six. I remember my busy mother stopping whatever she was doing and inviting me to sit on the couch, where she explained everything, to my absolute horror. I recall vaguely noticing that a sprinkling of girls in my class were sprouting breasts while my own chest remained flat as a board. If sprouting breasts meant monthly bleeding? No thanks. 

Thankfully, I had a mom I could ask, which is a good segue back to the book. Which is the point of this post, so get to it already, Brenda. I'd like to point out, though, the universality, at least among the females of the species of this rite of passage. If reading this book brought back my own ancient memories, then the book is that good.

Lia has been motherless for two years. She has a posse of best friends led by Abi, whose own mom has stepped in big-time as Lia's surrogate mother complete with regular home-cooked meals for her, her brother and father. Plans are set for most of the group to head to camp for the summer. Only, at the very last minute, like in the parking lot ready to board the bus last minute, Lia begs her father not to send her. She just doesn't want to deal with her own lack of action in the puberty department around all those girls.

She spends a rather introspective summer in Maine with her hippy dippy Aunt Shelby instead. She is surprised to learn that Abi's mom bullied her Aunt Shelby when they were kids. When she's reunited with her friends at the start of seventh grade, she discovers that's she's a bit on the outs thanks to the bonding that happened over camp and the girls' fascination with the game Truth or Dare. Lia chooses truth but then proceeds to lie - about getting her period and about kissing a boy. The fragile friendships crumble under the lies. 

This was a fun middle grade read about friendship and puberty told in an authentic tween voice. There's plenty of drama and the tween dialogue is pitch perfect. It's peopled with interesting characters, including the adults who are imperfect but caring and involved in the lives of the young people they love. 

Give this gentle, humorous book to tweens who want a read- alike to Judy Blume's Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret or Lauren Myracle's Winnie series. Truth or Dare is Ms. Dee's sixth middle grade novel. I am definitely going to look into the author's earlier titles. Check out the author's website for more information. 

Blog Tour: The Geek's Guide to Unrequited Love by Sarvenaz Tash

The Geek's Guide to Unrequited Love by Sarvenaz Tash. 256 p. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, June 14, 2016. 9781481456531. (Review from arc courtesy of publisher)

Graham and Roxy (Roxana) have been best friends for eight years now, ever since he moved in next door to her and he spied her spying on him through the fence. The first thing she asked was which Hogwarts house he thought he would be sorted into. He hadn't yet read the Harry Potter books so they read them together. They are united in a love of all things geeky and are now a graphic novel team - he writes and she does the art. 

Graham is ready to take their relationship to the next level. They are going to the New York City Comic Con together and when Graham discovers that their favorite author, the reclusive Robert Zinc, will be on a surprise panel, Graham takes it as a sign - he will procure tickets and proclaim his love for her at the Javits Center. All he has to do is camp out on line the night before. He talks his best bud, Casey into going with him. His confidence grows when he and his friend, are 101 online. Only, the next morning, the line breaks into a stampede and Graham is out of luck. 

Oh Graham, Graham! You poor, earnest, clueless sap! The story is told from his POV so we really don't get a sense of what Roxy is feeling except through Graham's perception. He maintains his optimism for the weekend only to be thwarted when Roxy's best friend, Felicia, signs them all up for Speed Dating. When Roxy emerges, she isn't alone, a cool, handsome Brit has latched onto her like a barnacle she doesn't want shucked. 

Readers will ache for Graham as he follows like a third wheel. Readers will root for Graham while wincing at his endearingly awkward, increasingly desperate attempts to save the day. Readers will laugh out loud, often; then feel a bit guilty for doing so. Readers who are also Comic Con fans will appreciate the setting and all of the sly in-jokes. Those who don't know what a Comic Con is will not be bored as the magic and energy of Comic Con is conveyed well. I found it rather fascinating that Ms. Tash frames this book over three days just as she did in her YA debut, Three Day Summer. I wonder if it was intentional. It was a great set-up in both books. 

The supporting cast of characters are vividly drawn, dialogue is snappy, spot-on and frequently hilarious. I highly recommend this fun, fast read for lovers of romance, geekdom and/ or all things comics. Personally, I would also love it was produced as an audiobook. I cannot wait to booktalk this! I have one more before school lets out. It's the perfect summer read. Many thanks to the author and publisher for the opportunity for this early read.

Sarvenaz Tash is offering a Pre-Order Swag Pack
Anyone who pre-orders The Geek's Guide to Unrequited Love or purchases it the week of release (up through Sunday 6/19) will receive an exclusive swag pack featuring a signed book plate, bookmarks, a postcard, and some adorkably nerdy stickers. All you have to do is email your proof of purchase and mailing address to geeksguidepreorder@gmail.com (This is international). More info here.

Blog Tour: Doreen by Ilana Manaster

Doreen by Ilana Manaster. 336 p. RP Teen/ Running Press Book Publisher, June 6, 2016. 9780762459629. (Review from arc courtesy of the publisher.) 

This is a retelling of The Picture of Dorian Gray set in the present at a New England boarding school. Doreen Gray arrives at the elite Chandler Academy in her junior year because her estranged father and the headmaster were have been friends since they both attended Chandler years ago. Doreen has been admitted as a favor.

Poor Doreen is a lumpy, pimply mess of a bully magnet. Her cousin, Biz hasn't seen her since Doreen's parents divorced many years earlier and, since she is good at heart, tries to make Doreen feel at home. Biz's roommate, Heidi is the resident queen bee. Were it not for Doreen's relation to Biz, Heidi would probably make Doreen's life miserable. But Heidi sees something in Doreen and she decides to offer Doreen a makeover and introductions around school.

Biz, who is a whiz at Photoshop, takes a picture of Doreen and touches it up a bit. The result is shocking and looks nothing like the real Doreen. Doreen tearfully accuses Biz of making fun of her and wishes that she looked like the beauty in the photo. The next day, Doreen wakes and finds herself transformed into that beauty. Heidi continues to groom Doreen, who proves to be a quick study. It isn't long before Doreen is ruling the campus, breaking curfew as well as hearts. 

She is not the only one with secrets. 

This was a fun read, perfect for summer reading. Teen readers who have The Picture of Dorian Gray assigned for high school will be amused by the retelling but the story stands on its own and will be enjoyed by teens who have not read the classic. The setting is vivid. The social interactions are believable. There are sympathetic characters as well as characters teens will love to hate. There's plenty of suspense to spare as Doreen seems unstoppable. Recommended!

Blog Tour: Breaker by Kat Ellis

Breaker by Kat Ellis 334 p. RP Teens/ Running Press, May 24, 2016. 9780762459087. (Review from arc courtesy of the publisher.)

When sixteen-year-old Kyle and his mama move from the hatred in their North Carolina town, they are looking for a fresh start. So Kyle has a new last name because most folks would recognize his old one. His father was a notorious serial killer called The Bonebreaker. He is cautiously optimistic about his fresh start but that evaporates in homeroom the first morning of classes. One of his classmates is Naomi Steadman, the daughter of his father's last victim, the only person to have seen the Bonebreaker and lived. He vows to keep his distance but he has already caught Naomi's eye and there's no denying the instant spark between them.

Everyone has secrets in this modern gothic thriller. Naomi is haunted by the death of her mother. She's also grieving for her grandfather's slow decline due to Alzheimer's. She's fending off unwanted advances by a creepy custodian and tired of the mind games her former best friend is playing. 

Killdeer Academy has a grim history. It was a former asylum for the mentally ill. A section of it burned in a tragic fire, but there are plenty of turrets, secret rooms, dark hallways and urban mythology, not to mention taxidermied predators and prey to lend a suitably creepy atmosphere. Yikes! And that cover! I have a hard time looking away and it ties in so gruesomely to several pivotal scenes in the book. 

The story is told in the alternating points-of-view of Naomi and Kyle. The occasional news clipping or undelivered letter or transcript fill in the story. Do not miss the chapter names. There are plenty of suspects and red herrings to consider as the suspense builds. While I figured out the who relatively early, I did not figure out the why until the big reveal. Teen fans of gothic thrillers will race through this. I am not a fan of gothic thrillers for the very reason why this is so good. The suspense killed me. There were a few minor plot points that irked but not enough to take me out of the story. 

Too bad this is pubbing as a paperback. My students are going to pass this one around.

Blog Tour: Maybe a Fox by Kathi Appelt and Alison McGhee

Maybe a Fox by Kathi Appelt and Alison McGhee. 261 p. A Caitlyn Blouhy Book/ Atheneum Books for Young Readers/ Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, March 8, 2016. 9781442482425. (Review from arc courtesy of Blue Slip Media)

Any school or children's librarian worth his or her salt takes Reader's Advisory very seriously. When you do, you read many, many books for children and young adults. If a book is quite exceptional, you start to make a mental list of the patrons you will share the book with. At least I do. I knew exactly who was getting Maybe a Fox. This is a lovely, lyrical story of loss. 

When you share books with a community of readers, there is, invariably, a portion of your reading community who love sad books; who gleefully share how much they cried and enthusiastically recommend their favorite weepies to you and their friends. Their devotion to the saddest of the sad books may dismay their parents. It might even cause some parents to apologize to you when they introduce themselves to you. 

If you are lucky enough to have such children in your life, give them this book.

Where to begin? Sylvie, Jules and her father were a tight triad of love and support since the girls' mother died suddenly many years earlier. Ever protective Sylvie supplied Jules' memories of their mother. She also was the fastest runner in their Vermont school. Jules was a rock hound who was always on the lookout for the perfect wishing rocks. The girls, and their best friend, Sam, would bestow a wish on such a rock and fling it into the Slip, a rather treacherous spot in a nearby river - a place their father told them to avoid.

One snowy morning, Sylvie ran off. Jules built a snow family that, inexplicably, included a fox while she waited. And waited. And waited. She finally followed Sylvie's tracks in the snow until they end abruptly at a root at the bank of the Slip.

Not only is Sylvie gone, but her body was never recovered. Jules and her father, reeling with the loss, draw closer together. But their's is not the only story of loss in their rural town. Even though Sam's brother, Elk, has returned from Afghanistan, his best friend, Zeke did not. Elk mourns his loss and Sam mourns his brother's change. Sam also longs to spot a catamount, an eastern cougar, in the woods.

Heavy material for middle grade, no? The two authors have a light hand as they weave a dual narrative - Jules' first-person story and a third person story of a vixen and her kits, one of whom is a girl. This little fox is no ordinary fox kit, but chosen to be a kennon, whose life and destiny will be inextricably bound to one human girl. While there is tremendous loss, there is slow, sure healing among this close-knit community. 

While the characters in Maybe a Fox are vividly real, there is so much to savor. The cover is absolutely gorgeous. The evocative rural Vermont setting may make readers long for a walk in the woods, possibly searching for Sam's mysterious totem, the catamount. The power of wishes, the hope for the return of a possibly extinct animal, the lore of magical foxes act as counterweights to the tragedy and help in the healing. 

There will be tears, many tears.

Maybe a Fox, has garnered multiple starred reviews. Kirkus called it "Intriguing as a story of connections with the animal world and, for perceptive readers, filled with solace." It is certainly on my list of 2017 Newbery contenders.

Click on this link to view a gorgeous trailer for that book created by Kathi Appelt's talented son and daughter-in-law.

Here are the stops on the blog tour:

Fri, Mar 4	I Read Banned Books
Mon, Mar 7	Watch.Connect.Read
Tues, Mar 8	https://www.crackingthecover.com/
Wed, Mar 9	Sharpread
Thurs, Mar 10	Proseandkahn
Fri, Mar 11	YABC
Mon, Mar 14	OWL for YA
Tues, Mar 15	Kid Lit Frenzy
Wed, Mar 16	Teach Mentor Texts
Thurs, Mar 17	Unleashing Readers
Fri, Mar 18	Mother Daughter Book Club

About the authors:

Kathi Applelt is the New York Times best-selling author of more than forty books for children. Her novels for older readers include two National Book Award Finalists: The True Blue Scouts of Sugarman Swamp and The Underneath, which also was named a Newbery Honor book. Visit her at kathiappelt.com.

Alison McGhee is the New York Times best-selling author of Someday, as well as Firefly Hollow and the Bink and Gollie books. Visit her at alisonmcghee.com.

Thanks to Barb from Blue Slip for allowing me to share this memorable book.

Blog Tour: Good Morning Yoga by Mariam Gates

Good Morning Yoga: a pose-by-pose wake up story  by Mariam Gates. Illustrated by Sarah Jane Hinder. Unpged. Sounds True, Inc., March 1, 2016. 9781622036028. (Review from finished copy courtesy of Blue Slip Media)

Kids today are under such stress, what with high-stakes testing, the expectation that reading will happen during kindergarten if not before, busy families, packed schedules and very little down time. Any book that introduces yoga to a young audience is a good book in my opinion. This colorful and cheery introduction to using yoga to greet the day is quite special. 

The end-pages feature a multicultural cast of children outdoors and active. Sunshine yellow title pages give way to those children greeting the day with a morning stretch, twisting, bending, standing, and balancing among other poses to salute a brand, new day. There is a dual narrative at work here. In the beginning, the verso pages all start with the mantra, "As I breathe in, as I breath out," then describe how to practice the pose. The recto pages somewhat metaphorically describe how the pose might make the child feel. A bit past the middle, the pattern switches. 

The palette is bright and energetic. Most illustrations feature a funny little animal observing or participating in the poses. All the poses are accessible to beginning practitioners and a double-page spread at the end shows the entire Good Morning Yoga Flow. The book ends with instructions for visualizing a good day. 

The author's playful approach to practicing yoga is infectious. I was unaware that this is the second of her books. Good Morning Yoga is a companion to her previously published, Good Night Yoga, which I will be looking up soon.

Mariam Gates holds a master's in education from Harvard University and has more than twenty years experience working with children. Her renowned Kid Power Yoga program comines her love of yoga iwth teaching to help children access their inner figts. She is the author of Good Night Yoga (Sounds True, April 2015) and lives in Santa Cruz, CA, iwth her husband, yoga teacher Rolf Gates. Follow her on Twitter @gatesmariam or on Instagram: mariam.gates.

Check out the book trailer here.  There's also a video online of the author reading her book here.

Other stops on the tour:

Wed, Feb 24	Teach Mentor Texts	http://www.teachmentortexts.com/#axzz3yHmVeUfE
Fri, Feb 26	Where Imagination Grows	http://whereimaginationgrows.com/
Mon, Feb 29	A Rup Life	http://www.aruplife.com/
Tues, Mar 1	Proseandkahn	http://proseandkahn.blogspot.com/
Wed, Mar 2	Kid Lit Frenzy	http://www.kidlitfrenzy.com/
Thurs, Mar 3	5 Minutes for Books	http://books.5minutesformom.com/
Fri, Mar 4	Once Upon a Story	http://mariaburel.com/
Mon, Mar 7	Wrapped in Foil	http://blog.wrappedinfoil.com/
Tues, Mar 8	Sharpread	https://sharpread.wordpress.com/
Wed, Mar 9	A Foodie Bibliophile in Wanderlust	http://www.foodiebibliophile.com/
Thurs, Mar 10	Unleashing Readers	http://www.unleashingreaders.com/
Fri, Mar 11	Children's Book Review	http://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/
Tues, Mar 15	The Library Fanatic	http://www.thelibraryfanatic.com/

Thanks to Barb at Blue Slip Media for giving me the opportunity to review this book. Please consider adding it to elementary school and classroom libraries as well as public libraries. 

Non-Fiction Monday (Blog Tour): Reproductive Rights: Who Decides? by Vicki Oransky Wittenstein

Reproductive Rights: Who Decides? by Vicki Oransky Wittenstein. 160 p. Twenty-First Century Books/ Lerner Publishing, January, 2016. 9781467741873. (Finished copy courtesy of publicist for review.)

Methods of preventing conception in ancient societies range from the amusing to the surprisingly effective. Controlling reproduction has been so consistently attempted through the ages that one may infer that it was an issue during prehistory as well. This slim volume cogently and succinctly lays out the history of attempts to control reproduction. 

Jumping from early history to the Victorian Era to the banning of contraception in the U. S. in the early part of the late nineteenth century thanks to Anthony Comstock's zealous prosecution of anyone distributing methods of contraception or attempting to educate. A chapter is devoted to Margaret Sanger, an untiring proponent of reproductive rights, as well as lesser known activists such as Mary Ware Dennett. Other historical and political influences are explained, such as the Eugenics Movement, campaigns to prevent sexually transmitted diseases by the military and sterilization laws that unfairly targeted African Americans. The FDA approval of the birth control pill afforded women a reliable method of birth control and opened the door to new possibilities and freedom. Additionally, both sides of the abortion rights arguments are given fair and equal treatment. The concluding chapter introduces the reader to modern global reproductive issues. Teen readers in first world countries may be surprised to learn that women's health in developing countries is perilous and lacking.

The book is beautifully designed from the striking cover photograph through the strategically placed text boxes and well-captioned photos, maps, and illustrations. Glossary, source notes, bibliography and suggestions for further reading round out this useful volume. Excellent for teen researchers or nascent activists or feminists, this book serves as a much-needed reminder that these rights were hard-fought, relatively recently won and are threatened here in the U.S. in our current political climate. A much needed purchase for upper middle, high school and public libraries. I would also propose that women's studies professors consider adding it to their syllabus.

-----------

Before becoming an author, VICKI ORANKSY WITTENSTEIN prosecuted criminal cases as an assistant district attorney with the Manhattan District Attorney's office. She earned an MFA in writing for children and young adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Vicki has written a number of science articles and books for the juvenile market, including Planet Hunter: Geoff Marcy and the Search for Other Earths, which won the 2011 Science Communication Award from the American Institute of Physics. Her book For the Good of Mankind? The Shameful History of Human Medical Experimentation was a Junior Literary Guild selection. Vicki and her husband live in Brooklyn, New York. Visit her website at vickiwittenstein.com.

Praise for REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS: WHO DECIDES?

★"Though slim, this volume packs a wallop."  --Booklist (starred review)

"Well written and impeccably researched, this volume will appeal to budding activists and feminists and to those concerned about human rights." --School Library Journal

A Junior Library Guild Selection

Other stops on the tour:

Tues, Feb 16

The Book Monsters: http://thebookmonsters.com/

Wed, Feb 17

Library Fanatic: http://www.thelibraryfanatic.com/

Thurs, Feb 18

Kid Lit Frenzy: http://www.kidlitfrenzy.com/

Fri, Feb 19

The Nonfiction Detectives: http://www.nonfictiondetectives.com/

Sat, Feb 20

Ms. Yingling Reads: http://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/

Mon, Feb 22

The Launch Pad: http://info.vcfa.edu/vcfa-launch-pad

Tues, Feb 23

Through the Tollbooth: http://www.throughthetollbooth.com/

Wed, Feb 24

Unleashing Readers: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/

Thurs, Feb 25

The Pirate Tree: http://www.thepiratetree.com/

Fri, Feb 26

Teach Mentor Texts: http://www.teachmentortexts.com/#axzz3yHmVeUfE