This book is an examination of Malcolm X's life, focusing mostly on late adolescence/young adulthood. It jumps back and forth in time, and his life slowly unfolds in front of you. I was not someone who knew a lot about Malcolm X, and this book, written by his third daughter, has definitely inspired me to learn more. I was intrigued by how this hustler would turn into the leader I think of him as. This book didn't do quite as well as I would have hoped in that regard. His prison transformation is glossed over at the end. I wish there had been maybe...five more pages further explaining why Honorable Elijah Muhammad and the Nation of Islam appealed to this man so much. Still, it's a worthy addition to the National Book Award list.

Seriously, everyone ever should read this book. I have been very impressed so far with this year's National Book Award Nominee list for young people. Not many books lead me to jump around with excitement upon finishing, but this one did. Ruby's backlist is definitely one I'm going to check out when MSBA is over.

Finn is seen as dreamy by most of the town of Bone Gap. His brother, Sean, is his guardian after his mother ran off with that orthodontist. There was a girl, Roza, who lived with them, but she was kidnapped, and no one seems to believe Finn about it. People leave Bone Gap for all sorts of reasons. Finn is convinced that what he saw is truth. Can he make anyone else believe it?

That's all I want to say about this beautiful bit of magical realism. The less you know going into this story, the better.

I devoured it in one night. I might have squealed. It was pretty great!

This is a book about a magical circus, which Micah's grandfather found years ago and is owed a miracle. However, it doesn't seem to be happening, so if Micah can find it, that would hopefully cause the debt to be repaid. He has a time limit though, because his grandfather is dying. Can Micah find the Circus Mirandus and save his grandfather?

This story is beautifully told and will hit you in the feels. The only character I found slightly unbelievable was Micah's great-aunt. Would she really have been so cold? And I did have a few questions about the ending, but I'm not interested in typing spoilers here, so I'll have to go search those out somewhere else.

I agree with many other reviews here--not quite as strong as the first, still an intriguing series.

Some stories were great, some were eh. I had a patron in mind who I thought might like this book, but I did not give it to him because too many of the stories were outside WWI. I do think some kids will really go for it.

Jose Guadalupe Posada created many images of calaveras, skulls and skeletons which are associated with the Day of the Dead. These images look somewhat familiar to me, although I suspect students in my area might be less familiar. I love Tonatiuh's art, and how he mixes it with Posada's. I think this would be a good introduction for my community into Day of the Dead festivities.

Definitely a great book about Katrina.