LIS 721 Fiction Books Part 1

There are many fabulous works of fiction literature out there for all age groups. I personally prefer to read fiction titles because they help me relax and take time to mentally visit a place I have not been before though some of the experiences and feelings evoked when reading fiction relate closely to my life. Fiction spans quite a range. Some of the common genres for children's fiction literature include contemporary realistic fiction, historical fiction, school stories, sports stories, survival stories, fantasy, science fiction, horror, and mystery. 

Today I will be reviewing a historical fiction work and contemporary realistic fiction work.

Williams-Garcia, R. (2010). One Crazy Summer. New York : Amistad, [2010], ©2010. ISBN 9780060760885 (trade bdg.).

This period novel is set in the summer of 1968. Delphine's father and grandmother, Big Ma, decide it is time she and her sisters spend some time with their mother. Sending them on a plane from their home in Brooklyn, New York to Oakland, California. Their mother Cecile, a mysterious poet, does not welcome them warmly as they hoped. Instead of their whimsical dreams of going to Disneyland and spending time to get to know her, they are shooed off to the People's Center which was run by the Black Panthers. Delphine and her younger sisters, Vonetta and Fern, spend a lot of time learning about revolution and staying out of their mother's way. 

Williams-Garcia does a beautiful job setting the tone and feel of the 1960's, including the tumultuous and pivotal moments in African American history. She displays the impact political movements, such as the work of the Black Panthers, has on someone's personal and familial life. Proven through her research done on the time period by having read books, articles, and conducting interviews. Even though it is narrated in the first-person from the perspective of Delphine, each of the sister's have strong character traits, creating independent and memorable voices for each character. This book still has relevance to readers today as issues in race, cultural and ethnic identity, and police injustice are still very prevalent in today's society. For these factors, this book works well for readers grades 4-7.

Watson, R. (2019). Some Places More Than Others. New York : Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2019. ISBN 9781681191089 (hardcover).

All Amara wants for her twelfth birthday is to go to Harlem and see where her dad grew up. She has only spoken with his side of the family over the phone, and yearns to learn more about her family history. When a couple factors, such as a school assignment and business trip for her dad, surface at a convenient time, her 8-month pregnant mother finally allows the two of them to hop on a plane to New York together to make her wish come true. Upon their arrival, Amara visits with her relatives, learns about the strained family relationship, and unravels family secrets which provides opportunities to mend the connection between her father and his side of the family, specifically with her Grandpa Earl. 

Amara's strong first person narration takes the reader on a journey of self-discovery and connection. The conversational tone helps to move the story along, making each chapter engaging for the reader. Watson includes a poem at the end of the novel which eloquently shares with the readers the impact our families can have on us. We take little bits of them with us everywhere we go and they help shape who we are. Weaving figurative and imagery language together, Watson paints Harlem as the perfect setting for Amara as she learns more about Black history and the impact of privilege. Making the reader feel as if they are also seeing, hearing, and experiencing Harlem alongside Amara, her father, and their extended family. This book would make an excellent genre study for grades 5-8.