Victoria Jamieson

Great Graphic Novels (#GGN2022) Featured Review of We Hereby Refuse: Japanese American Resistance to Wartime Incarceration by Frank Abe, Tamiko Nimura, Ross Ishikawa, and Matt Sasaki

We Hereby Refuse: Japanese American Resistance to Wartime Incarceration by Frank Abe, Tamiko Nimura, Ross Ishikawa, and Matt Sasaki
Chin Music Press
Publication Date: May 18, 2021
ISBN: 9781634059763

We Hereby Refuse illustrates the experiences of three individuals—Jim Akutsu, Hiroshi Kashiwagi, and Mitsuye Endo—caught up in the US government’s decision during World War II to treat Japanese Americans as traitors. Betrayed and wronged by their country, they fight to keep their families together while struggling against physical and psychological violence and misleading information. However, their decision to challenge the loyalty oath contract causes problems within the US government and the Japanese American community. The choices they make will lead them to life-altering consequences.

Amazing Audiobooks (#AA2022) Nominations Round-Up, Spring

Each quarter, the Selected Lists teams compile the titles that have been officially nominated to date. These books have been suggested by the team or through the title suggestion form, read by multiple members of the team, and received approval to be designated an official nomination. At the end of the year, the final list of nominations and each Selected List’s Top Ten will be chosen from these titles.

*Prices shown are for Library Digital Download.

Admission. By Julie Buxbaum. Read by Julia Whelan. 2020. Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group/Listening Library, $63 (9780593216996).

Chloe, privileged daughter of a beloved celebrity, watches helplessly as her mother is caught up in a college admission scandal benefiting her. Julia Whelan skillfully unpacks the emotions that go with Chloe’s questioning whether her parents believe she is enough.

Amari and the Night Brothers. By B. B. Alston. Read by Imani Parks. Harper Collins/Balzer + Bray, $64.99 (9780063057968).

Amari believes her missing brother is alive. When a mysterious suitcase appears in her closest, she is whisked away to a land of magic. To find her brother, Amari must pass a series of tests in order to enter the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs. Strong narration supports this fantastical adventure.

Amazing Audiobooks (#AA2022) Featured Review of Class Act by Jerry Craft

Class Act by Jerry Craft; narrated by Nile Bullock, Jesus del Orden, Guy Lockard, Marc Thompson, Peyton Lusk, Rebecca Soler, Dan Bittner, January LaVoy, Phoebe Strole, Jordan Cobb, A.J. Beckles, Robin Miles, Ron Butler, Miles Harvey, Kim Mai Guest, Kyla Garcia & Soneela Nankani
HarperAudio
Publication Date: January 5, 2021
ISBN: 9780063032057

Drew Ellis, Jordan Banks and Liam Landers are back at Riverdale Academy Day School for their eighth grade year, where they have to navigate microaggressions, colorism and class differences. The focus of this book is Drew and his home life with his grandmother, his longing to join the basketball team without becoming a stereotype, and his growing resentment towards Liam, the wealthiest of his friends.

Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers (#QP2021) Nominees Round Up, August 25 Edition

Click here to see all of the current Quick Picks nominees along with more information about the list and past years’ selections.

Fights: One Boy’s Triumph Over Violence by Joel Christian Gill
Oni Press
Publication Date: January 21, 2020
ISBN: 978-1549303357

Joel Christian Gill tells his life story in this stunning graphic memoir that does not shy away from the sometimes brutal fights and life lessons Gill faced before becoming the father, artist, and author he is today.

Amazing Audiobooks (#AA2021) Nominees Round Up, August 12 Edition

Click here to see all of the current Amazing Audiobooks nominees along with more information about the list and past years’ selections.

When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed; narrated by a full cast
Listening Library
Release date: April 14, 2020
ISBN: 978-0593162576

Brothers Omar and Hassan escaped war in Somalia where their father was killed. As very young boys they arrived at Dadaab, a refugee camp in Kenya. Their mother is missing, and Hassan is not well. At the camp, food and medical care is scarce, and hope is hard to come by. Omar and Hassan manage to get along with help from others. Omar is given a chance at an education, which, while reluctant to take (as it will separate him from his brother regularly) he decides to go to school.

Great Graphic Novels (#GGN2021) Nominees Round Up, May 28 Edition

Click here to see all of the current Great Graphic Novels nominees along with more information about the list and past years’ selections.

When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson, Omar Mohamed, and Iman Geddy
Dial Books for Young Readers / Penguin Random House
Published: April 14, 2020
ISBN: 9780525553908

Fleeing their war-torn home of Somalia, brothers Omar and Hassan live in Dadaab, a refugee camp in Kenya. Omar has almost no memories of life before the camp and his mother, who he still desperately searches for in the faces of new refugees. Taking care of Hassan is his full-time job, but Omar dreams of going to school and making a new life for himself and his brother.

When survival is your priority, is there room for dreams too?

Amazing Audiobooks (#AA2020) Nominees Round Up, July 3 Edition

Click here to see all of the current Amazing Audiobooks nominees along with more information about the list and past years’ selections.

Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson; narrated by a full cast
Dial Books, Listening Library
Publication Date: January 29, 2019
ISBN: 978-1984882332

Rollergirl by Victoria Jamieson is a unique audiobook. Originally written as a graphic novel, the images are conveyed via sound effects from roller derby skating (taped at a true roller derby event) to the everyday noises associated with home, street, and arena.

Continue reading Amazing Audiobooks (#AA2020) Nominees Round Up, July 3 Edition

Women in Comics – Pets

For pet owners, their beloved animal companions can be loyal friends, family members, and a never ending source of humorous stories. All of these characteristics make them great characters for comic books, so it is no surprise that many authors have chosen to write stories about them. Below are just a few great fictional and nonfiction reads about pets and the role they play in our lives.

Fetch Cover Garbage Night cover FukuFuku Kitten Tales cover Continue reading Women in Comics – Pets

Booklist: Surviving Middle School

Middle school is the time of greatest change for teens. It is when you go from from 11 to 12-years-old to becoming an actual teenager. It is a time changing friendships and changing bodies, becoming more aware of yourself and of others. It is a time when identity is being explored, but also a time of growing empathy and sense of social justice. Books about the middle school experience are tricky to categorize, some speak to the younger side and some to the older, and choosing books for middle schoolers can be difficult because they are reading everything.

Continue reading Booklist: Surviving Middle School

2016 Hub Challenge Check-In #8

Not signed up yet for YALSA’s 2016 Hub Reading Challenge? Read the official rules and sign up on the original post. Anything you’ve read since the awards were announced counts, and the challenge runs until 11:59pm EST on June 23, so sign up now!

I can’t believe how this winter flew by! Today is officially the first day of spring and, at least here, it has been feeling more like spring every day. If winter has had you feeling cooped up and not in the mood to read, now is the perfect time to grab one of the Challenge books and take it outside to read in the fresh spring air!

the hub 2016 reading challenge

Recently, I’ve been rereading another favorite from last year that made more than one of the lists, Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson. This graphic novel not only made the 2016 Great Graphic Novels for Teens Top Ten but also found its way onto the 2016 Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults Top Ten. And, to top it off, it was also a Newbery Honor Award winner. The story follows 12-year old Astrid as she signs up for a roller derby summer camp and comes to terms with changes in her friendship with her closest friend as their interests and passions start to diverge. This book has the potential to appeal to a wide range of age groups and reading styles. Best of all, it has great tie-in potential with the fitness/sports theme that many summer reading programs are adopting this year. I highly recommend reading this book; not only am I sure that you will enjoy it, but I am guessing that you will end up recommending it to friends and patrons alike. Continue reading 2016 Hub Challenge Check-In #8