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Social Justice in Graphic Novels

March 23, 2021 Michelle Baldini

RCLC Albers Fellow Shares Research on Social Justice in Graphic Novels by Kayla Hlad, MLIS Graduate Student, Kent State University iSchool In 2018, Dr. Karen W. Gavigan of the University Read more

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Reinberger Review Of “The Half-Orphan’s Handbook”
Currently Reading: “Beezus and Ramona”
Reinberger Review Of “Watch Over Me”
Currently Reading: “Katie and the Waterlily Pond”
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The Reinberger Children's Library Center at Kent State supports scholarly research and provides professional training to students and practitioners.

The Half-Orphan’s Handbook by Joan F. Smith The

The Half-Orphan’s Handbook by Joan F. Smith

Themes: (TW) suicide, grief, loss of a parent, coming-of-age, first love, and heartbreak

Review by Kristen Higgason (she/her)
MLIS Student, Kent State University iSchool
M.Ed Student, Kent State University EHHS

Lila lost her father to suicide three months ago, and now her mother is sending her to grief camp – somewhere Lila doesn’t want to be and doesn’t think she needs to go. Can new friends and a potential love interest help her get back to “normal” after losing her dad?

This book BROKE me in so many good ways. This was incredibly emotional, well-written, and created a space for a group of people who tend to feel very isolated (survivors of suicide). The bright spots of this book are Joan F. Smith knows when to use humor and hope to lighten such a heavy topic. This book will truly mesmerize you if you let the emotions of the characters shine.

Watch Over Me by Nina LaCour Themes: Grief, menta

Watch Over Me by Nina LaCour

Themes: Grief, mental health, guilt, and new beginnings

Review by Kristen Higgason (she/her)
MLIS Student, Kent State University iSchool
M.Ed Student, Kent State University EHHS

Mila, a recent high school graduate and no longer in foster care, decides to take a job teaching other foster children on a remote Northern California farm. But the farm holds hauntings of all the trauma from the farm’s residents, and Mila must confront her own.

If you have ever wanted to read a book about ghosts but wanted things to feel a little more realistic – this is the book for you. Award-winning author Nina LaCour knows how to draw readers in and help them get in touch with their emotions. This book is no different. You will feel the trauma of Mila and the other residents on the farm, but you will wonder about the ghosts the way they do, too. Haunting, beautiful, and an empathetic take on guilt and recovery.

Today we remember the birthday of Danish author Ha

Today we remember the birthday of Danish author Hans Christian Andersen, best known for his fairy tales. His collection includes The Little Mermaid, Thumbelina, and The Ugly Duckling. His books remain popular with fans young and old worldwide. Andersen’s works laid the foundation for other children’s classics, like The Wind in the Willows and Winnie-the-Pooh. Awards are given annually in the author’s name by the International Board of Young People.

Bad Girls with Perfect Faces by Lynn Weingarten T

Bad Girls with Perfect Faces by Lynn Weingarten

Themes: social media, secrets, friendship, thriller & suspense

Review by Kristen Higgason (she/her)
MLIS Student, Kent State University iSchool
M.Ed Student, Kent State University EHHS

All Sasha wants is to protect her best friend Xavier from his cheating ex, Ivy. To protect Xavier, she becomes Jake online and lures Ivy away. But what happens when Sasha becomes Jake is more than she imagined could happen.

I love a good mystery crime thriller! This book was a perfect thriller with lots of unexpected twists to keep you turning the page! The dangers of people pretending to be someone else are everywhere, but what happens when you become that person? What’s the worst that could happen? You would be shocked to find out. This is a must-read for anyone looking for a plot twist that will leave you thinking about it for days.

Celebrate Women’s History Month with these five

Celebrate Women’s History Month with these five anthologies about incredible women often overlooked by history.

Read more about these books at https://reinbergerchildrensbookreviews.org/celebrate-womens-history-month-with-these-books-4/

A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro Themes:

A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro
Themes: whodunit, romance, and retellings

Review by Kristen Higgason (she/her)
MLIS Student, Kent State University iSchool
M.Ed Student, Kent State University EHHS

A new twist on the well-loved Watson and Holmes duo, but this time it’s Jamie Watson and Charlotte Holmes – two teenagers caught up in a murder they’re being framed for.

This novel was such a clever retelling of Holmes and Watson. Taking well-known characters and spinning them into teenagers who have just as much grit, tenacity, and a knack for solving crimes was a blast. I think what made this novel refreshing is that both Jamie and Charlotte feel so real. They have their vices, hang-ups, they are not polished, or perfect. They show you it is ok to not be perfect, but that you can still be part of something greater. The mystery aspect of this novel is wild! The mystery is cleverly well done, twisty, and incredibly entertaining. If you can guess the ending before you’re told – you should look into being a detective.

Celebrate Women's History Month with these five pi

Celebrate Women's History Month with these five picture books about women who refused to be silenced.

Read more about these books at https://reinbergerchildrensbookreviews.org/?p=5537&preview=true

Today we remember the birthday of outstanding chil

Today we remember the birthday of outstanding children’s author, Bill Martin Jr. In addition to his masterful books that are used for preschool and elementary students, Martin also discovered Eric Carle when he convinced Carle to illustrate a few of his books. Check out all of Martin’s work on his website: https://billmartinjr.com/bill_martin.

Nick and Charlie by Alice Oseman Themes: first lov

Nick and Charlie by Alice Oseman
Themes: first love

Review by Kristen Higgason (she/her)
MLIS Student, Kent State University iSchool
M.Ed Student, Kent State University EHHS

Set two years after the Heartstopper graphic novels comes a short and sweet update on Nick and Charlie. Nick is about to graduate and his moving off to university creates uncertainty if they will stay together and be able to survive a long-distance relationship.

Nick and Charlie are such a sweet couple that you can first meet in the Heartstopper graphic novel series! This short novella is about what happens after the series. It’s always a favorite guilty pleasure of mine to see characters I love after the novel or series I meet them is finished. Being back with Nick and Charlie is like a warm mug of cocoa on a cold day. Seeing the two of them work through real-life relationship issues was refreshing, even if sad at times. If you’re looking for a short and sweet read about two LGBT+ characters, this is the one.

Celebrate Women's History month with these five yo

Celebrate Women's History month with these five young adult books about women involved in civil rights and equality movements.

Read more about these books at https://reinbergerchildrensbookreviews.org/?p=5547&preview=true

Happy birthday to Virginia Hamilton! Virginia pa

Happy birthday to Virginia Hamilton!

Virginia paved the way for the “Liberation Literature” movement, inspiring other multicultural children’s authors and illustrators to share their stories. Virginia has written in a variety of different genres—from slavery-era stories to young adult novels, from biographies to collections of African-American folktales. She was the first African-American to win the Newbery Medal for "M. C. Higgins, the Great" in 1975.

We are proud to house the Virginia Hamilton Collection at the Reinberger and to help host the Virginia Hamilton Conference on Multicultural Literature for Youth. For more information on this year's 35th Virginia Hamilton Conference, please visit kent.edu/virginiahamiltonconference.

Happy birthday to Virginia Hamilton! Virginia pa

Happy birthday to Virginia Hamilton!

Virginia paved the way for the “Liberation Literature” movement, inspiring other multicultural children’s authors and illustrators to share their stories. Virginia has written in a variety of different genres—from slavery-era stories to young adult novels, from biographies to collections of African-American folktales. She was the first African-American to win the Newbery Medal for "M. C. Higgins, the Great" in 1975.

We are proud to house the Virginia Hamilton Collection at the Reinberger, and to help host the Virginia Hamilton Conference on Multicultural Literature for Youth. For more information on next year's 35th Virginia Hamilton Conference, please visit kent.edu/virginiahamiltonconference.

Today we celebrate the birthday of American writer

Today we celebrate the birthday of American writer and illustrator of children’s books, Ezra Jack Keats. Keats is well known for breaking the color barrier with his book "Snowy Day," published in 1962.

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson T

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
Themes: redemption, courage and perseverance, and whodunit

Review by Kristen Higgason (she/her)
MLIS Student, Kent State University iSchool
M.Ed Student, Kent State University EHHS

Andie Bell was murdered by Sal Singh five years ago – according to the police and everyone in town anyway. Not Pippa Fitz-Amobi though. When Pippa chooses this case for her senior thesis, she puts a target on herself when secrets start to unravel.

This book will not disappoint! You will want to keep reading this book until you are finished and then you will sit there and realize how sneaky this novel is! This mystery thriller novel is packed with twists and turns. The way the book is written and being able to read Pippa’s notes, her interviews, and capstone project logs makes it feel like you are part of the story every step of the way. If you’re looking for a good whodunit novel, this is the one to pick up!

Celebrate Women’s History Month with these five

Celebrate Women’s History Month with these five middle school books about daring and courageous women often overlooked by history.

Read more about these books at https://reinbergerchildrensbookreviews.org/celebrate-womens-history-month-with-these-books/

Happy birthday to American cartoonist, author and

Happy birthday to American cartoonist, author and illustrator of children’s literature, Dav Pilkey. Pilkney is best known for his graphic novel series Dog Man and his books series Captain Underpants. Check out all of his work on his website: https://pilkey.com/

Happy birthday to American children’s writer, Pa

Happy birthday to American children’s writer, Patricia MacLachlan. MacLachlan is best known for her award winning book “Sarah, Plain and Tall.”

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Coll

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
Themes: good vs evil, morality, friendship, and authority and oppression.

Review by Kristen Higgason (she/her)
MLIS Student, Kent State University iSchool
M.Ed Student, Kent State University EHHS

The prequel to the highly-acclaimed "The Hunger Games" trilogy gives readers a better understanding of one of the most powerful characters from the original trilogy – President Snow. Who was he before the trilogy, and what shaped him.

This book is an addicting read about authority and oppression and keeps you thinking after you have finished. I enjoyed learning about the early parts of the Hunger Games, but I found Snow’s struggle with morality, good vs. evil, and his eye-opening experiences of oppression to be the most intriguing. The addition of music in this book created a unique experience that I have not had with a novel before. This book will appeal to fans of the trilogy but is also a great first dystopian novel for those who have not read the trilogy.

Happy birthday to American illustrator, Leo Dillon

Happy birthday to American illustrator, Leo Dillon. Dillon is one of the most acclaimed illustrators of our times. He collaborated with his wife for more than five decades. Together they illustrated popular children’s books such as "Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears" and "Jazz on a Saturday Night."

To celebrate Women’s History Month, each week we

To celebrate Women’s History Month, each week we will be posting books centered around daring women in history. These stories belong to just a few of the many remarkable women who fill history with their courage and perseverance.

For the first week of Women’s History Month, enjoy these picture books about women in S.T.E.M. fields!

Read more about these books at https://reinbergerchildrensbookreviews.org/celebrate-womens-history-month/

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