Each month we post an annotated bibliography of books that were rated ‘Outstanding’ at our previous month’s meeting and nominated for our year-end Distinguished List. Members can see full reviews of these books and many more in the November edition of BayViews. Not a member? Join, come to our (currently virtual) monthly meetings, and hear about these Outstanding books “in person”!
Picture books
Milo Imagines the World, written by Matt De la Peña, illustrated by Christian Robinson, Putnam, 2021.
Words and illustrations unite in a story rich in rhythm,
detail, charm and humanity. On a subway ride, darkskinned
Milo draws his fellow passengers’ lives.
Chance and literal self-reflection come together in a
surprise ending, causing him to reimagine his world. (Grades K-3).
Listen, written by Gabi Snyder, illustrated by Stephanie Graegin, Simon & Schuster, 2021.
Barraged by a multicultural city’s noise, a young girl
pauses: consciously separating sounds, building
awareness and empathy throughout the school day.
Charming digital and colored pencil illustrations radiate
calm. Use of onomatopoeia adds to the message. An
afterword explains aspects of hearing. (Grades K-3).
Fiction
All Our Hidden Gifts, written by Caroline O’Donoughue, Walker, 2021.
Maeve discovers a deck of tarot cards during
detention. An emotionally charged reading of her
former best friend Lily results in Maeve wishing Lily
would disappear, and when Lily does, it becomes clear
that supernatural forces are afoot in their small Irish
town. A fun, witchy read with real heart. (Grades 9-12).
Just Like That, written by Gary Schmidt, Clarion, 2021.
Schmidt’s third novel in the Wednesday War trilogy
follows Meryl Lee Kowalski to Maine where she
struggles to recover from a personal tragedy, while
learning to understand the lives around her and
exploring human relationships across many lines, from
gender to class, race to politics. (Grades 7-12).
Too Small Tola, written by Atinuke, illustrated by Onyinye Iwu, Candlewick, 2021.
Set in Nigeria, three witty stories are packed with
details, emotions and observations perfect for children.
Each spread is enlivened with humorous line drawings.
Tola’s relatable challenges result in heartwarming
triumphs, making this a superb choice for newly
confident readers or reading aloud. (Grades 1-4).
Biography
Genius Under the Table, The: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain, written and illustrated by Eugene Yelchin, Candlewick, 2021.
Yelchin’s memoir of growing up Jewish in 1960’s
Communist Leningrad, USSR, mixes personal stories
with comments on the Cold War and related politics in
this warm and revelatory book. The chapters are
augmented with ink cartoon drawings on nearly every
page which help convey the story. (Grades 5-9).
Nonfiction
From a Whisper to a Rallying Cry: The Killing of Vincent Chin and the Trial that Galvanized the Asian American Movement, written by Paula Yoo, Norton, 2021.
Paula Yoo’s analysis of Vincent Chin’s brutal 1982
Detroit murder explores the racism of the city and time
which caused his death, the deep flaws in the legal
system and the remarkable ripple effect which Chin’s
community’s response to the killing had on the Asian
American movement nationwide. (Grades 8-Adult).
Without Separation: Prejudice, Segregation, and the Case of Roberto Alvarez, written by Larry Dane Brimner, illustrated by Maya Gonzalez, Calkins Creek, 2021.
In 1931 in Lemon Grove, California, the school board
built a grand new school, but sent all the Mexican-
American students to a wooden barn-like building for
instruction. Families sued with the lead plaintiff
Roberto Alvarezto prove this segregation was racial
prejudice, and won. (Grades 1-5).
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