‘Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree’

This is a sweet and charming book about a girl who is governed by logic, and her interactions with the messy and irrational classmates with whom she shares her life. The author, Lauren Tarshis, also wrote the immensely popular I Survived disaster-survival series. I was able to strongly relate to this book’s protagonist, Emma-Jean; she’s never specifically labeled as anything other than “strange,” but I could easily see her occupying a place on the autism continuum (and I like the way that Emma-Jean’s being “strange” is framed as a positive trait). Altogether, a compelling storyline, difficult to put down — as, with good intentions, Emma-Jean resorts to various forgeries. I kept waiting with apprehension for her ruses to be discovered.

Roseland library: SR council advocates funding

Storytime at Roseland library. Credit: SCL website

Important news for supporters of Santa Rosa library services: The Santa Rosa City Council has directed city staff to include $150,000 for Roseland Community Library relocation in the budget for next fiscal year.

‘Reluctant Paladin’ by Jordan Bernal

A strong theme of uniting to combat bullying is at the heart of this fantasy novel for young readers that is set in Ireland. The protagonist, Niall, has arrived at a new school after his parents leave him in the care of his grandfather.

Niall is an onlooker to a classmate being bullied, and at first he wants to intervene but the bully’s target convinces him not to. Later, Niall is himself targeted by the bully.

Meanwhile, Niall’s grandfather provides veterinary care to various clans of dragon-riders. Bonded pairs of dragons and their human “compeers” keep Ireland safe and prosperous — and only a few people are privileged to know the existence of the dragons.

Recently, Grayson, a young dragon, was born without wings at one of the dragon-riders’ compounds. Grayson was given into the care of a young man who, instead, abused him. Niall’s grandfather and local clan leaders intervene and rescue Grayson, and Niall comes to care for him.

While caring for Grayson, Niall also learns how to defeat the bullying done by his classmate.

The author, Jordan Bernal, has done well with developing her characters. The bully, Thorin, is not simply a one-dimensional villain; instead, we learn he is doing his best to care for several younger siblings. Circumstances have forced him to step into the role of father because his own father is lost in drink, and they all live under constant threat of authorities breaking-up the family.

This book arrived in my school library courtesy of a parent-supporter who attended a writers’ conference with author Jordan Bernal. I am interested in reading The Keepers of Eire, which this book is a prequel to.

Lauren Tarshis books, donated to library

Appreciation to author Lauren Tarshis, who recently donated several of her books to the library at Santa Rosa Charter School for the Arts.

‘The Boy at the Back of the Class’

This book offers young readers an introduction, through fiction, to the serious and heartbreaking reality of refugees who have to flee their homeland, who must brave untold hardships and separation from loved ones in hopes of finding a new home. The story’s protagonist, an unnamed first-person narrator, befriends Ahmet, a child newly arrived at school who is a Syrian refugee. The protagonist later organizes an effort to enlist help from the Queen to locate Ahmet’s missing family. The author, Onjali Q. Rauf, provides further information about the status of “refugees” and an age-appropriate explanation of how they differ from “migrants” or “immigrants” (who generally move to a new country by choice). Rauf also provides a list of organizations for readers who would like to help.

(I found this ARC among books that were donated by a library vendor.)

‘Mascot’ by Antony John

First-person narration by main character Noah Savino kept this reader engaged. The story centers around an attempt to unmask “Fredbird,” official mascot for the St. Louis Cardinals, while addressing the challenges that Noah has to face while undergoing physical therapy from an auto collision that paralyzed him and also killed his father. The story is full of memorable and very detailed characters that populate Noah’s world; I think a lot of readers will relate to Noah’s concern about a new man in his mother’s life while Noah struggles to hold onto memories of his father and resolve feelings concerning the collision.

(I found an ARC of this title among books that were donated by a library vendor.)