Maximillian & The Mystery of the Guardian Angel - Xavier Garza

Maximillian & The Mystery of the Guardian Angel by Xavier Garza
Max loves luche libre, his favorite fighter is Guardian Angel. Max is excited about going to a match with his dad. It's his reward for earning straight A's in the fifth grade. This book came out last year, it looked like fun and I wanted to read it. However I never got around to it. After it was selected as a 2012 Purla Belpre honor, I moved it up my tbr list and very happy that I did. Max is a very likable character, and has a lucha libra filled summer. He even gets to meet Guardian Angel. Along with Max's voice, Garza does an excellent job of including the family. There are over exaggerated and very cool black and white illustrations of the fighters included throughout. The big match at the end plays out very well visually and will easily draw the reader into Max's love of luche libre. This is a bilingual story. English and Spanish are side by side, so a reader can read one and not be distracted by the other.

Froi of the Exiles - Melina Marchetta

Froi of the Exiles by Melina Marchetta
This is the second book in the Lumatere trilogy. Set three years later, Froi is one the many young men who found a home in Lumatere after the curse on the land in finally lifted. In the first one, Finnikin of the Rock, Froi unknowingly journey's with three people essential to restoring Lumatere. In return for their acceptance, Froi is very loyal to Lumatere. Froi finally gets to do something on behalf of his new kingdom. Sent on a secret mission to Charyn, where the king responsible for Lumatere's five days of the unspeakable lives. As Froi tries to do what he believes is best for his adopted kingdom, the queen, her husband and the people of Lumatere are doing their very best to heal and rebuild.

There are many excellent and complicated layers making the struggles, sorrows, successes and triumphs feel that much more realistic. I loved Finnikin of Rock and was very much looking forward to Froi of the Exiles and I was not disappointed. I should be embarrassed by how much I love Marchetta's work but am not. She's simply got some serious skills, every single time I read one of Marchetta novels (I've read them all) she simply raises the bar and crushes it. I realize this is more of a fan gush than a review but I don't care.

An excerpt via Candlewick press
It's best to read in order, Finnikin of the Rock is out in paperback.
An excerpt of Finnikin of the Rock via Candlewick press

Starred Publishers Weekly review
Kirkus review

Explorer:The Mystery Boxes - Kazu Kibuishi

Explorer:The Mystery Boxes -edited by Kazu Kibuishi
A collection of seven graphic novels, each story stems from an unknown box being opened. One of the thing I love about all of the stories is while they may be short they are fully formed. Each story is well crafted, the authors used the small amount space wisely both visually and textually. While the stories are very different, the thread of the mystery box is a enough to bind them together.
In Under The Floorboards by Emily Carroll - A young girl is excited about her new friend/former doll, until it shows its true colors. Carroll starts this collection on a very strong note. And extra points for the doll's creepy face. In Spring Cleaning* by Dave Roman and Raina Telgemeier - A young boy must find somewhere to hide living magic from three wizards desperate to get their hands on it. Roman and Telgemeier collaborated on very funny, entertaining and well layered story.
In The Keeper's Treasure by Jason Caffoe - A young man goes on a treasure hunt. What makes this story stand out is who the young man meets at the end of his travels.
In The Butter Thief* by Rad Sechrist - A granddaughter must figure out a way to help a creature who love the taste of butter if she wants to return to her human ever again. I loved the author's use of color.
In The Soldier's Daughter by Stuart Livingston with Stephanie Ramriez - After learning that her dad died in battle a daughter must decide what path she will take revenge or forgiveness. This was a very nice look at some of the emotional causalities of war.
In Whatzit by Johane Matte with Saymone Phanekham - A young alien's excitement about being box handler is quelled when something in the box won't cooperate. This one is fun light and silly.
In The Escape Option by Kazu Kibuishi - A man presented with a glimpse of the earth's future has a life changing decision to make. This one is filled with a lot of wow and will leave the reader with a lot to think about.
This is a wonderful anthology, even some one like me, who is sometimes blind to the beauty that is a graphic novel can appreciate This is one of the few times I've read a collection and had several favorites to choose from.

Starred Kirkus Review
Starred School Library Journal Review


*In Spring Cleaning the young boy is Black. In The Butter Thief the family is Japanese.

On Sale Now : New Releases

April new releases with characters of color or featuring a diverse cast

It Jes' Happened:When Bill Traylor Started to Draw by Don Tate illus. by R. Gregory Christie

Walking on Earth and Touching the Sky :Poetry and Prose by Lakota Youth at Red Cloud Indian School edited by Timothy P. McLaughlin illus. by Stephen D. Nelson
Baby Flo: Florence Mills Lights Up the Stage by Alan Schroeder illus. by Ying-Hwa Hu (March)
Cat Girl's Day Off by Kimberly Pauley

The Temptation:A Kindred Novel by Alisa Valdes
The Hunt by Andrew Fukuda
Creeping With the Enemy by Kimberly Reid

All the Right Stuff by Walter Dean Myers
Body Slammed by Ray Villareal
Fat No More: A Teenagers Victory Over Obesity by Alberto Hidalgo-Robert
The Chaos by Nalo Hopkinson

Nalo Hopkinson's YA Debut/ Starred Reviews for Authors of Color (So Far)

Later this week I will run my regular feature of new releases that feature characters of color or a diverse cast, though today I just wanted to point out two.

It Jes Happened : When Bill Traylor Started to Draw by Don Tate illus. by R Gregory Christie. Tate is a children's illustrator, and this is his author debut. I find it fitting that a visual artist would stretch themselves artistically and write a biography on a visual artist. I am looking forward to reading this one. Publishers Weekly review
Starred Kirkus review

The Chaos by Nalo Hopkinson. I love the cover and I am super excited about Hopkinson's first YA novel (she's an award winning adult author) The book has received a starred Kirkus review and a starred Publishers Weekly review

In February CBC Diversity committee was formed. The members are primarily editors from various publishing houses.

The CBC Diversity Committee is dedicated to increasing the diversity of voices and experiences contributing to children’s literature. To create this change, the Committee strives to build awareness that the nature of our society must be represented within the children’s publishing industry.

We endeavor to encourage diversity of race, gender, geographical origin, sexual orientation, and class among both the creators of and the topics addressed by children’s literature. We strive for a more diverse range of employees working within the industry, of authors and illustrators creating inspiring content, and of characters depicted in children’s literature.

Anything that gets people talking or thinking about multicultural fiction is a good thing. Speaking of diversity, Edi did a wonderful post called trending in color last week. I thought her observations were right on point.

One thing I see trending this year are starred reviews for authors of color

1.The Whole Story of Half a Girl by Veera Hiranandani - Two starred reviews - Publishers Weekly and Kirkus.

2.No Crystal Stair by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson - Four starred reviews - Horn Book Magazine, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus and School Library Journal. My interview with the author

3.Beneath a Meth Moon by Jacqueline Woodson - Three starred reviews - Kirkus, Publishers Weekly and School Library Journal

4.The Mighty Miss Malone by Christopher Paul Curtis - Two starred reviews - Kirkus and Publishers Weekly

5.Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz - Two starred reviews - Publishers Weekly and School Library Journal

6. Ship of Souls by Zetta Elliott - Booklist starred review

7. The Wild Book by Margarita Engle - Kirkus starred review

Including It Jes Happened by Tate and The Chaos by Hopkinson's that's nine* books so far by authors of color with at least one starred review.


*Figured I'd cover myself up front for the titles I missed