https://www.bushrasbookbabbles.com/picture-books daily 0.75 2023-12-21 https://www.bushrasbookbabbles.com/picture-books/review-gladys-the-magic-chickennbspby-adam-rubin-illustrated-by-adam-rex monthly 0.5 2023-07-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/40060273-1ad9-4b2f-a7e2-296b42ce58a3/0593325605.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_SX500_.jpg Picture Books - Review: Gladys the Magic Chicken&nbsp;by Adam Rubin. Illustrated by Adam Rex - Quick Info: Book type: Picture Book Target age: 3-7 years old Recommended age: 3-7 years old Plot: A story following the legend of a “so called” magical chicken that grants wishes. Was it truly magic or could it just be coincidences? https://www.bushrasbookbabbles.com/picture-books/review-unbound-the-life-art-of-judith-scottnbspby-joyce-scott-with-brie-spangler-illustrated-by-melissa-sweet monthly 0.5 2023-07-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/fe3316fe-283f-4765-ac9c-ad0eab3af829/91uVwWEAgsL._AC_UF1000%2C1000_QL80_.jpg Picture Books - Review: Unbound: The Life + Art of Judith Scott&nbsp;by Joyce Scott with Brie Spangler. Illustrated by Melissa Sweet - Quick Info: Book type: Picture Book Target age: 4-8 years old Recommended age: 4-8 years old Plot: The life and artwork of Judith Scott as told by her twin sister, Joyce. Judith was institutionalized most of her life due to her diagnoses of Down Syndrome and very late discovery of deafness. After her twin sister was finally able to get her out and care for her, Judith began to show interest in making art pieces with yarn and other materials she could find. https://www.bushrasbookbabbles.com/picture-books/review-the-legend-of-gravity-by-charly-palmer monthly 0.5 2023-07-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/52e1d5a0-e4c2-4463-acd6-ba75687b7105/91N-fWuxWML._AC_UF1000%2C1000_QL80_.jpg Picture Books - Review: The Legend of Gravity by Charly Palmer - Quick Info: Book type: Picture Book Target age: 4-8 years old Recommended age: 4-8 years old Plot: This is a story that is partially a memoir of the author’s experience with playing basketball with his friends as a youth. It’s a tall tale about a kid nicknamed “Gravity” because he seems to defy it and how he and his friends won the neighborhood basketball competition with his help. https://www.bushrasbookbabbles.com/picture-books/review-the-dirt-book-poems-about-animals-that-live-beneath-our-feetnbspby-david-l-harrison-illustrated-by-kate-cosgrove monthly 0.5 2023-07-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/5e26b434-0403-41e5-a60b-894dcf977b50/0823438619.01.S001.LXXXXXXX.jpg Picture Books - Review: The Dirt Book: Poems About Animals That Live Beneath Our Feet&nbsp;by David L. Harrison. Illustrated by Kate Cosgrove - Quick Info: Book type: Picture Book Target Age: 5-9 years old Recommended Age: 5-9 years old Plot: A collection of poems about animals and bugs that live under ground https://www.bushrasbookbabbles.com/picture-books/reviewindelible-annnbspby-meghan-p-browne-illustrated-by-carlynn-whitt monthly 0.5 2023-07-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/b9e4b6a5-2a54-4f85-8872-f4e0218ebdf2/9780593173275.jfif Picture Books - Review: Indelible Ann&nbsp;by Meghan P. Browne. Illustrated by Carlynn Whitt - Quick Info: Book type: Picture Book Target Age: 4-8 years old Recommended Age: 7-10 years old Plot: The life story of Governor Ann Richards https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/921a7ad9-1b3a-4932-bccd-b8637098ceef/IMG-7922.jpg Picture Books - Review: Indelible Ann&nbsp;by Meghan P. Browne. Illustrated by Carlynn Whitt - Context: Governor Ann supported the LGBTQ+ community during her time in office. The person on the right is wearing a shirt with the pride flag as a heart. The page helps the reader infer Ann’s support as well. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/1688415142891-VXF2H44CTI8UUXABZG0W/IMG-7920.PNG Picture Books - Review: Indelible Ann&nbsp;by Meghan P. Browne. Illustrated by Carlynn Whitt https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/1688415206057-VOIDACO078JEESSX2YSF/IMG-7921.PNG Picture Books - Review: Indelible Ann&nbsp;by Meghan P. Browne. Illustrated by Carlynn Whitt https://www.bushrasbookbabbles.com/picture-books/review-bluenbspby-nana-ekua-brew-hammond monthly 0.5 2023-07-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/04f7c57e-55ca-4fef-a87c-476aa9f1fc37/51%2B4ppNCgKS._SX388_BO1%2C204%2C203%2C200_.jpg Picture Books - Review: Blue&nbsp;by Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond - Quick Info: Book type: Picture Book—Non Fiction Target Age: 4-8 years old Recommended Age: None Plot: A poetic telling of the history of the color blue https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/1688288321944-JMTRKDQ008CVUESOL0F4/IMG-7889.jpg Picture Books - Review: Blue&nbsp;by Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/1688288321963-HG23GV7LVS483XD6CFVB/IMG-7888.jpg Picture Books - Review: Blue&nbsp;by Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/a4cf464a-b729-4474-9b45-04cbe536c979/IMG-7884.jpg Picture Books - Review: Blue&nbsp;by Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/1688330153061-HLQN2MWLTUWMZEESRANJ/IMG-7886.jpg Picture Books - Review: Blue&nbsp;by Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/1688330153029-P82H44DK1RVKGY6NK4RR/IMG-7887.jpg Picture Books - Review: Blue&nbsp;by Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/6c0a51a9-80b4-4fb6-8a3e-d56aad70c803/IMG-7883.jpg Picture Books - Review: Blue&nbsp;by Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.bushrasbookbabbles.com/elementary-grade-books daily 0.75 2023-09-18 https://www.bushrasbookbabbles.com/elementary-grade-books/review-leave-it-to-plum-by-matt-phelan-rewjr monthly 0.5 2023-12-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/00da35c1-7bf6-4ed8-a85c-752697c061ff/IMG_0117.jpeg Early Readers Books - Review: Caves by Nell Cross Beckerman - Quick Info: Book type: Picture Book Target Age: 4-8 years old Recommended Age: 5-10 years old Plot: A poetic, non-fiction take on caves and their exploration https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/d5a82266-badf-4480-bbb2-6e6547ab5a30/IMG_0115.jpeg Early Readers Books - Review: Caves by Nell Cross Beckerman - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.bushrasbookbabbles.com/elementary-grade-books/review-leave-it-to-plum-by-matt-phelan monthly 0.5 2023-07-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/c59b1ef0-8d79-4532-8adf-cfac9a6b0050/5159zQebL8L.jpg Early Readers Books - Review: Leave it to Plum! by Matt Phelan - Quick Info: Book type: Chapter Book Target Age: 8-12 years old Recommended Age: 5-6 (Read aloud) & 7-8 (Independent) Plot: Plum is a part of the free range peacocks at his zoo & loves to mingle with the other animals & zoo visitors. However, not everyone loves the peacocks! Someone has framed them as thieves & it’s up to Plum to find out who. https://www.bushrasbookbabbles.com/elementary-grade-books/review-haven-a-small-cats-big-adventurenbspby-megan-wagner-lloyd monthly 0.5 2023-07-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/3695e09f-2260-47e6-88b6-b08d565523ef/91NZYnb3RGL._AC_UF1000%2C1000_QL80_.jpg Early Readers Books - Review: Haven: A Small Cat’s Big Adventure&nbsp;by Megan Wagner Lloyd - Quick info: Book type: Chapter Book Target Age: 8-12 years old Recommended Age: 7-10 years old Plot: After Haven’s human—Ma Millie—falls ill Haven decides it’s up to her to leave their cabin in the woods and ask their neighbor for help. On her way she meets a fox looking for something new who promises to take Haven through a short cut. Haven doesn’t know if she can trust the fox but it turns out there’s something bigger and meaner following their trail. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/160ed1fa-21e8-47f4-a1b0-c86888e55019/IMG-7980.jpg Early Readers Books - Review: Haven: A Small Cat’s Big Adventure&nbsp;by Megan Wagner Lloyd - Context: Haven asks the fox if she has a name by asking what her parents call her. The fox responds with “curious brat”—the name is never mentioned again. It is clear by Haven’s reaction that that word “brat” is an unsavory word. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/1688405643687-H7FP651CVVMNJ8M0SFH1/IMG-7915.PNG Early Readers Books - Review: Haven: A Small Cat’s Big Adventure&nbsp;by Megan Wagner Lloyd https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/1688405642633-QIKC2VX4E7D79WYTVIKP/IMG-7916.PNG Early Readers Books - Review: Haven: A Small Cat’s Big Adventure&nbsp;by Megan Wagner Lloyd https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/1688405641815-73FHAHKXGLQGZE4AG3U2/IMG-7918.PNG Early Readers Books - Review: Haven: A Small Cat’s Big Adventure&nbsp;by Megan Wagner Lloyd https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/1688405642584-EBKAWBLNU1R8HKY94MPU/IMG-7917.jpg Early Readers Books - Review: Haven: A Small Cat’s Big Adventure&nbsp;by Megan Wagner Lloyd https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/1688405641813-SR6DSSY4S2J80PHPSN3X/IMG-7919.PNG Early Readers Books - Review: Haven: A Small Cat’s Big Adventure&nbsp;by Megan Wagner Lloyd https://www.bushrasbookbabbles.com/middle-grade-books daily 0.75 2024-12-20 https://www.bushrasbookbabbles.com/middle-grade-books/pax monthly 0.5 2024-12-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/22135ee1-ec3d-4ac4-87ea-61ae1751bfe7/pax.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Pax by Sara Pennypacker - Quick Info: Book type: Chapter book Target age: 8-12 Recommended age: 9+ Plot: Due to his father going to war Peter must release his pet fox, Pax into the wild. Feeling guilty Peter embarks on a 300-mile journey to find him on his way he meets Vola, a war veteran living in the woods. Meanwhile, Pax learns to survive in the wild while searching for Peter and makes new friends. https://www.bushrasbookbabbles.com/middle-grade-books/escape-from-mrlemoncellos-library monthly 0.5 2026-01-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/314ff65a-254f-4237-8931-18c741be495d/IMG_0997.jpeg Middle Grade Books - Review: Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library - Quick Info: Book type: Chapter book Target age: 8-12 Recommended age: 7-10 Plot: Kyle Keeley and his friends find themselves immersed in the ultimate game within a library full of wonders and surprises. When faced with challenges, they must use their wits, teamwork, and love for books to solve riddles and uncover clues. https://www.bushrasbookbabbles.com/middle-grade-books/daybreak-on-raven-island monthly 0.5 2024-07-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/37a9da2a-4ae9-4465-ba30-4f0db3ce07ed/IMG_0438.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Daybreak on Raven Island by Fleur Bradley - Quick Info: Book type: Chapter book Target age: 8-12 Recommended age: 10+ Plot: Tori, Noah and Marvin are seventh graders who are going to the first class field trip ever to the mysterious (and possibly haunted) Raven Island. After they miss the ferry ride back home the three unlikely friends must solve old and new mysteries behind of this Island before it is too late. https://www.bushrasbookbabbles.com/middle-grade-books/the-cursed-moon-a5g7s monthly 0.5 2024-07-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/13eacb66-a830-4576-a7a7-589803885b33/IMG_0150.jpeg Middle Grade Books - Review: The Cursed Moon by Angela Cervantes - Quick Info: Book type: Chapter book Target age: 8-12 Recommended age: None Plot: Rafael is a middle school boy who loves scary stories but even though he was warned by his neighbor not to, decided to tell one on the blood moon. Now he must deal with the consequences and try to break the curse. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/cbf243e3-4d1a-4a14-a488-89e4a05b02d8/IMG_0132.jpeg Middle Grade Books - Review: The Cursed Moon by Angela Cervantes - Context: The main character speaks about his mother and their relationship. It begins to get better at the end of the book, however a big part of the book is like this. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/da40a621-f15d-4a6b-963c-c4f242a4a042/IMG_0121.jpeg Middle Grade Books - Review: The Cursed Moon by Angela Cervantes - Context: The main character has a poor relationship with his mother and is constantly bashing her, however, he does have valid reasons to be upset with her. His sister and grandparents encourage him to try to forgive her and rebuild a relationship. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/b8d95a17-17ea-4ffd-b136-023ba4aaee82/IMG_0126.jpeg Middle Grade Books - Review: The Cursed Moon by Angela Cervantes - Context: The main character’s mom was a teen mother and they have an absent father. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/66c3cb1a-44d1-494f-abe3-01a87496fc3b/IMG_0127.jpeg Middle Grade Books - Review: The Cursed Moon by Angela Cervantes - Context: The main character is referring to his mother in this text. Granted she has lied in the past about changing and being better and hasn’t followed through. . https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/c7ef211f-7be1-43de-b332-16d60f2fb5d4/IMG_0128.jpeg Middle Grade Books - Review: The Cursed Moon by Angela Cervantes - Context: The main character’s mother has had a rough past with drugs, alcohol and is now currently in prison. However, she has changed even though the main character refuses to believe so. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/0cd8cfd9-414b-4a1e-a977-a16e5e704ba0/IMG_0129.jpeg Middle Grade Books - Review: The Cursed Moon by Angela Cervantes - Context: The main character’s general attitude to his mother is tense and it just feels weird for a 12-year-old making these demands. This falls under “iffy” more than unIslamic. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/e34afea7-b5f7-4608-af05-4395ac7fdb39/IMG_0132.jpeg Middle Grade Books - Review: The Cursed Moon by Angela Cervantes - Context: Some context on the relationship between the main character and his mother which he refers to by her first name, Nikki. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/0c1eea78-5d90-4031-a16f-338b29e261a8/IMG_0144.jpeg Middle Grade Books - Review: The Cursed Moon by Angela Cervantes - Context: Anytime the main character’s mother is brought up she is slandered which just feels excessive. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/a2db62f9-19bb-4e5a-befa-0477ee28de99/IMG_0124.jpeg Middle Grade Books - Review: The Cursed Moon by Angela Cervantes - Context: The whole premise of the book is how these scary stories come true and how there is spirits haunting the town. However it takes a religious turn. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/5fc170e5-674e-4aa2-94c3-6e7c2dabae31/IMG_0123.jpeg Middle Grade Books - Review: The Cursed Moon by Angela Cervantes - Context: The main character’s best friend is very Catholic and wants to be a canonized saint. The kids joke about his faith throughout the book. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/b0685765-5d6c-4e69-828f-b98f7eb077f8/IMG_0130.jpeg Middle Grade Books - Review: The Cursed Moon by Angela Cervantes https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/12fff07e-5e87-4b95-9783-4bd019407408/IMG_0125.jpeg Middle Grade Books - Review: The Cursed Moon by Angela Cervantes Context: Ouija boards are wooden board games to “communicate with spirits, ghosts, djinn” and everything else in between. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/93ad5ebb-a695-4da4-85e3-125c10d50c07/IMG_0131.jpeg Middle Grade Books - Review: The Cursed Moon by Angela Cervantes - Context: The kids refer to one of the elders as a witch, she does end up dabbling in black magic though. The second half of the excerpt isn’t really that “bad” in the sense of it being like the silly rumors that kids make up. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/9218c909-5923-4862-bd7f-ecd44cf6564a/IMG_0136.jpeg Middle Grade Books - Review: The Cursed Moon by Angela Cervantes - Context: The story’s premise is about evil spirits and mystical situations. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/bf333fcc-2903-43d4-9f63-6436a06ee687/IMG_0141.jpeg Middle Grade Books - Review: The Cursed Moon by Angela Cervantes - Context: The younger sister, Brianna, is possessed by the Caretaker, the villain of the story who is referred to as “an evil spirit”. They also speak of the “protective amulet”. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/f641a606-00e4-487c-8ebe-dad8ff84e7d7/IMG_0140.jpeg Middle Grade Books - Review: The Cursed Moon by Angela Cervantes - Context: The main character gets a “protective amulet” shaped with an evil eye to protect them from evil spirits. It works until one of the character’s moms throws it away, which is villainized. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/e9dc3ceb-290e-4e84-8e51-48e306f623e5/IMG_0142.jpeg Middle Grade Books - Review: The Cursed Moon by Angela Cervantes https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/dfb809d4-d7a3-49a6-aff4-4b896491d196/IMG_0138.jpeg Middle Grade Books - Review: The Cursed Moon by Angela Cervantes https://www.bushrasbookbabbles.com/middle-grade-books/review-unsettled-by-reem-faruqi monthly 0.5 2023-07-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/1785ed51-4de4-456e-b437-a2c07ecd9cc3/81Cv6MoqljL._SL1500_.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Unsettled by Reem Faruqi - Quick Info: Book type: Verse Novel (story told in poems) Target age: 8-12 years old Recommended age: 11+ Plot: A story about Nurah, a young girl from Pakistan, moving to Georgia and learning to “blend in”. When she and her brother are finally able to join a new swim team, Nurah now has to decide how much she will give up in order to stand out. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/1689306813821-V010OAITBXKPVDH5ZHSZ/IMG-8273.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Unsettled by Reem Faruqi https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/1689306813821-XLSE37MZHE3EDTFZUUZN/IMG-8279.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Unsettled by Reem Faruqi https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/1689306814489-04MRQ437KZZDV2OB3LTB/IMG-8290.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Unsettled by Reem Faruqi https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/1689307600940-TIHNNFT0NL6SVVSFAPQ9/IMG-8275.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Unsettled by Reem Faruqi https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/1689307600975-2RGMOKJQE7G8SOXLUXK0/IMG-8276.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Unsettled by Reem Faruqi https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/1689307601690-53HQCBJ7S5EIJ04QTNJW/IMG-8277.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Unsettled by Reem Faruqi https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/1689307601760-QM5GUZ3EYY50IX7B99MW/IMG-8291.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Unsettled by Reem Faruqi https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/cfcf6980-bbaf-4fb2-858d-f203c46661fc/IMG-8272.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Unsettled by Reem Faruqi - Context: On the main character’s first day of school, she panics when a non-Muslim boy, Aidan, tries to shake her hand and she just shakes it. She feels guilty for not speaking up and wonders what her grandmother would think of her. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/aa1a2c36-f292-4c08-8df6-344e348fa92e/IMG-8274.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Unsettled by Reem Faruqi - Context: The main character gets asked by Stahr to sit with her at lunch. Stahr tells the main character that she has an abusive father and makes her promise not to tell anyone. She also shows her bruises. Stahr and her mother end up leaving the abusive household. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/156b24ba-2544-406c-9209-6133e8068a06/IMG-8278.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Unsettled by Reem Faruqi - Context: Obligatory terrorist attack as a plot point in every kids and YA Muslim book. The father calls the terrorist an idiot. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/038e45d3-8880-44d7-b0a8-ca89358ca5d8/IMG-8283.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Unsettled by Reem Faruqi - Context: The family is staying in a hotel until they are able to find a home in Georgia which leaves all of them stressed. The main character’s mother calls the family to read Surah Kahf on Friday as they usually do. Owais, the main character’s older brother, decides he doesn’t want to and talks back to his mother. Which results in her slapping him and him threatening to call cops. After the two see that the main character is crying they immediately apologize to one another. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/a284db40-042f-405b-a9e4-dd45ee2f5df9/IMG-8285.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Unsettled by Reem Faruqi - Context: A pair of boys, Jay and Cal, are making fun of a man who is missing a hand on the bus. After a few weeks of watching the main character has enough and yells at them to “shut up”. They end up leaving the man alone for the rest of the book. The main later thanks the main character. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/6865fea2-2858-4cde-a8cb-b0122f8cc5e9/IMG-8289.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Unsettled by Reem Faruqi - Babbles: We’re so used to reading books about immigrating from the perspective of a child that sometimes we forget that the parents are also their own individual people. It was really interesting to see the main character realize that her parents are also starting from scratch and have the same desire to fit in that she does. It is also very wholesome and nostalgic to remember small programming in masjids. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/af56c655-f865-417d-bc67-e3a4b2e35d8c/IMG-8284.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Unsettled by Reem Faruqi - Babbles: It was refreshing to see a Muslim character turn to Allah SWT during times of hardship and seeing the masjid as a place of comfort. I would have loved to see more exploration of the main character’s friendships with the girls at the masjid. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/88b0b736-b754-42a8-9685-0bf7e6bc69a2/IMG-8282.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Unsettled by Reem Faruqi - Babbles: I don’t have much to add onto about this poem other than that I really liked how the author corrected the “z” sound in “Muslim” that non-Muslims tend to say. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/1689309503228-QA8J4P2L7PQ1YS3YPHN0/IMG-8287.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Unsettled by Reem Faruqi https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/1689309503247-TEXI5F6RKU6SHDOQ93AX/IMG-8288.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Unsettled by Reem Faruqi https://www.bushrasbookbabbles.com/middle-grade-books/reviewinvisiblenbspby-christina-diaz-gonzalez-illustrated-by-gabriela-epstein monthly 0.5 2023-07-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/d57ededa-425b-435a-a731-cb806a754960/IMG-8198.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Invisible by Christina Diaz Gonzalez. Illustrated by Gabriela Epstein - Quick Info: Book type: Comic Book Target age: 8-12 years old Recommended age: 9+ years old Plot: Five students are stuck with one another for community service at their school and although they are very different everyone around them seems to see them as just a group of Spanish-speaking kids. While doing their community service they find someone who truly needs their help and decide to work together. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/70f796bd-9ba8-4487-bbee-c3a8d44854d0/IMG-8195.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Invisible by Christina Diaz Gonzalez. Illustrated by Gabriela Epstein - Context: Mild micro-aggressions are sprinkled throughout the story as many people call all Spanish-speaking kids “Mexicans” or assume things of them due to their racial background. The principal assumes the main characters will get along due to them having “a lot in common” and characters assume George to be fluent in Spanish. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/61886f7a-0568-43db-8517-b6ea4eb7ca9f/IMG-8197.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Invisible by Christina Diaz Gonzalez. Illustrated by Gabriela Epstein - Context: Before they become friends, the characters insult one another a once or twice in the beginning of the story by calling each other dumb, weird or a loser. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/1689046772355-JAASFO51514SLE5FO9RA/IMG-8196.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Invisible by Christina Diaz Gonzalez. Illustrated by Gabriela Epstein https://www.bushrasbookbabbles.com/middle-grade-books/review-the-polter-ghost-problemnbspby-betsy-uhrig monthly 0.5 2023-07-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/4bc8ca60-9ae4-4ce9-a521-289d51ca3a7d/1665916109.01.S001.LXXXXXXX.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: The Polter-Ghost Problem&nbsp;by Betsy Uhrig - Quick Info: Book type: Chapter Book Target age: 8-12 years old Recommended age: 10+ Plot: Three bickering friends are prepared to have a boring summer until they discover a ghost boy in the woods. After following him the find a haunted orphanage and accept the ghosts’ pleas for help. Unfortunately, one of the boys’ older brother made it his mission to ruin their summer. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/ef95823f-b61c-4866-ac2e-40ba3aad04cf/IMG-8124.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: The Polter-Ghost Problem&nbsp;by Betsy Uhrig - Context: Whenever the main character mentions his brother there is usually an insult in front of it. Whenever the brother speaks about the main character and his friends there is also usually an insult. However, at the end of the story the two brothers end up making up. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/ad10300f-97bb-47ae-bf17-a86d294d7846/76578.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: The Polter-Ghost Problem&nbsp;by Betsy Uhrig - Context: The main character, Aldo, has been holding a very long grudge on his older brother, Neil, for ditching him on the way to school and leaving him out in the rain. After the events of the story where Neil ends up saving and protecting Aldo from the bad guys the boys decide to make up. The characters’ parents make them write “Written Apologies” to one another when they are upset at one another and this time the boys decide to write one to one another at their own accord. The two brothers forgive one another and decide to go treasure hunting together the rest of the summer. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/444a14c9-1f77-41f7-8dc0-4ed2785cf64a/IMG-8125.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: The Polter-Ghost Problem&nbsp;by Betsy Uhrig - Context: The word “stupidity” is used once here and the context being a ghost trying to convince the boys to “play with matches” in hopes of burning down the orphanage so the ghosts can be released from the building. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/54a09d11-3e5e-48f0-8461-1cf9ee8e34a1/IMG-8129.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: The Polter-Ghost Problem&nbsp;by Betsy Uhrig - Context: When the boys first meet Franny, a ghost, she denies being a ghost. One of the boys, Pen, says he can “see through your dress” and then reassures her that he cannot see her underwear. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/1c6d1534-46a1-4657-81fc-219836f6add3/IMG-8126.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: The Polter-Ghost Problem&nbsp;by Betsy Uhrig - Context: The main character is writing this story as a school project so he frequently censors words. He uses “swear word” like this twice in the whole book on how his father describes his laptop. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/1689045022368-CII1HIHV41YR01SRNR4T/IMG-8127.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: The Polter-Ghost Problem&nbsp;by Betsy Uhrig https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/1689045022432-TGX6D06HNG8AE1GKLZGM/IMG-8128.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: The Polter-Ghost Problem&nbsp;by Betsy Uhrig https://www.bushrasbookbabbles.com/middle-grade-books/review-the-marvellersnbspby-dhonielle-clayton monthly 0.5 2023-12-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/27f4efba-6efc-482e-8e0b-fffb864ebe1b/1250174945.01.S001.LXXXXXXX.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review:The Marvellers by Dhonielle Clayton - Quick Info: Book type: Chapter Book Target age: 8-12 years old Recommended age: None Plot: Ella Durand is the first ever “Conjuror” allowed to attend the Arcanum Training Institute, a magical school where “Marvellers” from around the world learn and practice magic. When a notorious criminal escapes prison and her favorite teacher go missing all eyes on Ella. However she is determined to prove herself worthy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/eaeb9e8f-ee20-41fa-9dcc-44a6965f314c/IMG-8119.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review:The Marvellers by Dhonielle Clayton - Context: Samaira is a hijabi student that one can allude to being a Muslim. She speaks of her moms and their powers. One of them has a “gem marvel” which means she has powers regarding gems. Her other mother has a “wisdom marvel” which means she has powers making her more wise. There is no deeper explanation on Samaira’s mothers, her ethnic background or a possible father. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/bb3e36ae-6419-4a87-8447-cb62c6f78160/IMG-8120.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review:The Marvellers by Dhonielle Clayton - Context: The Muslim character carries a lantern for her “djinn friend” for when she decides to visit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/8d00efc2-57da-415d-82eb-af474a59f127/unnamed.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review:The Marvellers by Dhonielle Clayton - Context: In this universe there is “the Underworld” and this excerpt explains the concept of “Conjurors” and “the Underworld”. The main character of the series is a “Conjuror”. A person who is a “fewel” is someone who doesn’t use magic. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/b1bb8fb7-59a1-4974-80d9-21e12c51c842/IMG-8122.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review:The Marvellers by Dhonielle Clayton - Context: The main character has tiny saint figurines in her dorm room that are sentient and whose jobs are to advise her. They are Christian saints as they are depicted in the story clutching rosaries and Bibles. They are also depicted performing the sign of the cross and perform a ritual to cleanse the main character’s room from evil spirits. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/f6c4218c-5784-4c82-9f09-9b9df059a879/IMG-8188.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review:The Marvellers by Dhonielle Clayton - Context: A deathbull is a Pitbull-like creature that lives in the Underworld. They are referred to as “divine creatures”. There are instances of other animals being referred to as “divine” as well. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/1689041744325-13M1B3KK2EH0059NU5MK/IMG-8186.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review:The Marvellers by Dhonielle Clayton https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/1689041744286-1XO09FAT0WD6PFS6TOMC/IMG-8187.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review:The Marvellers by Dhonielle Clayton https://www.bushrasbookbabbles.com/middle-grade-books/review-the-last-mapmakernbspby-christina-soontornvat monthly 0.5 2023-07-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/31c8a90e-7b10-4a73-94cd-b1d2f22c7272/1536204951.01.S001.LXXXXXXX.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: The Last Mapmaker&nbsp;by Christina Soontornvat - Quick Info: Book type: Chapter Book Target age: 8-12 years old Recommended age: 10+ years old Plot: Sai Mudawan is an assistant mapmaker; however, unlike the other assistants in the city she’s poor and lives with her criminal father. When the moment arises for her to join the crew of an exploration ship she jumps on her her mentor in hopes of rewriting her own destiny. However, things change when she realizes the true reason of the expedition. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/2298320c-9676-4e21-baf8-8511873e3c33/IMG-8131.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: The Last Mapmaker&nbsp;by Christina Soontornvat - Context: This is the main character’s emotions of her criminal father at the beginning of the story. She doesn’t speak highly of him referring to him by his nickname “Mud” (but everyone calls him Mud ). Her last name is Mudawan so it’s possible to have stemmed from it. Later, Sai begins to understand her father’s actions and has a bit more mercy for him. She doesn’t completely antagonize him as she knows he would never force her to do anything she didn’t want nor hurt her. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/dd0c7daf-6729-4d96-85fa-4f0fd7dcbf89/IMG-8191.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: The Last Mapmaker&nbsp;by Christina Soontornvat - Context: At the end of the story the main character’s feelings to her father changes. “Catfish” is her father’s friend. When the main character ran away to the ship she shoves her money tin in her father’s arms in hopes of distracting him. Telling him he can keep her money as long as he lets her go. That same tin was left untouched by her father. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/74133e83-dacd-4271-b720-6655cb760967/IMG-8132.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: The Last Mapmaker&nbsp;by Christina Soontornvat - Context: The main character is almost late to work and “thanks the heavens” her order is ready. She also bows from the waist (not in prostration) to the chef. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/d063848c-f329-47b1-94b0-ce88bbb9cc73/IMG-8134.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: The Last Mapmaker&nbsp;by Christina Soontornvat - Context: The main character reaches the ship she will sail on and greets her elderly teacher, Paiyoon, with a bow at the waist (not in prostration). She also pays her respects to a shrine before continuing her journey. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/23604a24-e357-4844-8ddd-bdcf02528c2c/IMG-8135.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: The Last Mapmaker&nbsp;by Christina Soontornvat - Context: When the main character and her friend, Bo, end up at a wonderful island after being shipwrecked they create in altar to thank the spirits. They offer the shrine and spirits things like water, fruit and flowers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/b6f0c8dc-8a1d-4a00-8590-e228dc648d0e/IMG-8136.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: The Last Mapmaker&nbsp;by Christina Soontornvat - Context: The captain of the ship explains her reasoning for taking this trip by saying it was an excuse to find her long lost son whom she had out of wedlock. Her description of having a child and pregnancy is practical and does not speak in detail. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/44a5b397-8639-4ad0-ae7c-fae6525afdea/IMG-8193.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: The Last Mapmaker&nbsp;by Christina Soontornvat - Context: The character, Rian, speaks about her relationship to the “Sangra family” and how she is have sisters with the captain of the ship. Her father commits adulatory but the character is not explicit in the description of her conception. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/2da7cb30-aad9-4fae-9b6c-154158778e06/IMG-8190.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: The Last Mapmaker&nbsp;by Christina Soontornvat - Context: The main character exclaims that she could kiss her friend, Bo, after gives her the missing part of a map she’s been looking for. Later in the story Bo sends the main character a plethora of letters and someone hints that he may have a crush on her. https://www.bushrasbookbabbles.com/middle-grade-books/review-the-last-beekeepernbspby-pablo-cartaya monthly 0.5 2023-07-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/def871c0-3cd0-4e2c-b955-9f0945d9cef6/0063006553.01.S001.LXXXXXXX.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: The Last Beekeeper&nbsp;by Pablo Cartaya - Quick Info: Book type: Chapter Book Target age: 8-12 years old Recommended age: 8-12 years old Plot: In a dystopian world where there is little wildlife left Yolanda and other farmers struggle to make ends meet with their crops. Yolanda has no interest in continuing caring for her late parents’ dying strawberry farm and instead wants to become a nerolink surgeon but her sister can’t afford the final class so Yolanda takes up a loan and forgets to read the fine print. Desperate to pay off the loan she and her sister dig through her grandmother’s journals and find out about “killer insects” called honeybees. Could honeybees be the answer to all their problems? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/7324dd68-8d57-4b50-ae18-c7e6dcf88c3c/IMG-8112.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: The Last Beekeeper&nbsp;by Pablo Cartaya - Context: The concept of a “nuerolink” is mentioned frequently in this book. It is basically a futuristic brain implant. While the main character wants to become a nureolink surgeon but at the end of the book decides that it is evil. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/502d75da-cf15-4e65-8338-37c6fdd6cfca/IMG-8113.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: The Last Beekeeper&nbsp;by Pablo Cartaya - Context: A few times in the book they mention “man made animals”. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/2eb311c4-d4fc-44b5-b87d-81496a0885fc/IMG-8114.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: The Last Beekeeper&nbsp;by Pablo Cartaya - Context: Some of the bad guys have “robotic augmentation” that make them into these superhuman cyborgs. Following a theme of “human evolution”. https://www.bushrasbookbabbles.com/middle-grade-books/reviewthe-first-cat-in-space-ate-pizzanbspby-mac-barnett-illustrated-by-shawn-harris monthly 0.5 2023-07-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/951e10e8-735b-4f49-a11f-a339814a5688/0063084082.01.S001.LXXXXXXX.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review:The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza&nbsp;by Mac Barnett. Illustrated by Shawn Harris. - Quick Info: Book Type: Graphic Novel Target Age: 7-10 years old Recommended Age: None to 10+ years old Plot: After scientists discover that rats are eating the moon their solution is to send a cat to take care of the problem. With the help of the moon queen and toe-nail clipping robot the first cat in space starts his adventure. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/7833f673-9540-4c64-b3fd-47da39ef563c/IMG-7864.PNG Middle Grade Books - Review:The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza&nbsp;by Mac Barnett. Illustrated by Shawn Harris. - Context: Because the rats are eating the moon creatures are acting weird. Moths have decided to eat this teacher’s sweater, leaving him shirtless for this page and only this page. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/aff00c6a-fb29-4c24-ab82-5530eaa1f0b2/IMG-7868.PNG Middle Grade Books - Review:The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza&nbsp;by Mac Barnett. Illustrated by Shawn Harris. - Context: A robot is created to clip this mad scientist’s toenails. Her foot is brought up maybe one or two other times. It’s just a little gross, although some children may find it humorous. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/ac2d174f-694e-4391-80f7-17262512edd0/IMG-7876.PNG Middle Grade Books - Review:The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza&nbsp;by Mac Barnett. Illustrated by Shawn Harris. - Context: The characters asl a yeti for his fur to make clothes so they can venture off to “the dark side of the moon” leaving him nearly nude for only this page. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/4f999dfd-cd0d-4092-a4da-d13c8e247dbf/IMG-7881.PNG Middle Grade Books - Review:The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza&nbsp;by Mac Barnett. Illustrated by Shawn Harris. - Context: This is the beach scene where the army general decides to go on vacation. https://www.bushrasbookbabbles.com/middle-grade-books/review-the-beatryce-prophecy-by-kate-dicamillo monthly 0.5 2023-07-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/4f858fea-974f-48e6-be44-5e9c4eea0030/1536213616.01.S001.LXXXXXXX.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: The Beatryce Prophecy by Kate DiCamillo - Quick Info: Book type: Chapter Book Target age: 8-12 years old Recommended age: None Plot: A young girl is prophesied to come during a war to “dethrone a king and being great change” through the power of stories and love. With the help of her new friends she decides to make that prophecy come true. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/f0184d9d-0e6a-427c-9cc7-25174a4c5837/IMG-8076.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: The Beatryce Prophecy by Kate DiCamillo - Context: The character, Brother Edik, is a monk that lives in a monastery with other men where his job is to write down the “Chronicles of Sorrowing”—more specifically drawing the intricate first letter of every chapter. He, like the other monks, sometimes are “revealed some truth” which are referred to as prophecies that must happen. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/42b7ac5c-6329-45e5-9ac9-7b4d6dbd2a9e/IMG-8077.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: The Beatryce Prophecy by Kate DiCamillo - Context: The Chronicles of Sorrowing is also referred to as “the great book”. It is the book that the monks (also referred to as prophets) write down the “truths” and “prophecies” that come to them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/cbb29310-222d-4eb1-9594-5b226158c170/IMG-8078.PNG Middle Grade Books - Review: The Beatryce Prophecy by Kate DiCamillo - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.bushrasbookbabbles.com/middle-grade-books/review-tales-to-keep-you-up-at-night-by-dan-poblocki-illustrated-by-marie-bergeron monthly 0.5 2023-07-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/86e83268-ef83-4f63-90a6-cf1a97bae474/B09TVMDGDX_f127b1df_cover.jpeg Middle Grade Books - Review: Tales to Keep You Up At Night by Dan Poblocki. Illustrated by Marie Bergeron - Quick Info: Book type: Chapter Book (Short Stories) Target age: 10-12 years old Recommended age: None Plot: When Amelia, her brother and their two mothers go to her grandmother’s house after her mysterious disappearance Amelia finds a book titled “Tales to Keep YouUp at Night” in the attic. A short collection of creepy stories intertwined with Amelia’s own story as elements of the book begin to come to life. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/9ee2e077-d575-4226-b1b7-723b537263ed/IMG-7981.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Tales to Keep You Up At Night by Dan Poblocki. Illustrated by Marie Bergeron - Context: The main character of the story has two mothers who are frequently mentioned. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/d302d69c-76a7-4ba6-bc82-5f83e86cede9/IMG-7983.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Tales to Keep You Up At Night by Dan Poblocki. Illustrated by Marie Bergeron - Context: In one of the short stories, a character mentions going to a dinner with her “boss and his husband”. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/f04b4a3e-012a-47be-a4d6-4db985263be2/IMG-7984.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Tales to Keep You Up At Night by Dan Poblocki. Illustrated by Marie Bergeron - Context: After a 10-12 year old child creates a dinosaur with some magical clay he discovered in a rock he arrogantly refers to himself as “a god”. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/43370e05-f6c8-4d2c-8183-db6a5047ff43/IMG-7997.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Tales to Keep You Up At Night by Dan Poblocki. Illustrated by Marie Bergeron - Context: It is a bit difficult to showcase all the disturbing imagery and storylines without giving the whole story but this is a snippet from the short story “Green Beans”. It is about a boy who stays over with his aunt and how she won’t let him leave the dinner table until he finishes all his green beans. When he refuses to she says the man with “upside down head” will get him. This excerpt is the boy meeting that man. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/7ab5e7e4-7545-415f-9631-0cc3441cb2fa/IMG-7998.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Tales to Keep You Up At Night by Dan Poblocki. Illustrated by Marie Bergeron - Context: This was another one of the short stories that stuck out to me as particularly disturbing. A young girl goes to this old house looking for “nite crawlers”—specific worms to fish with in order to win a fishing competition. Previously, her father had won a competition and vanished. It turns out he was captured by this woman and then became a life source for wormlike creatures. This scene is the main character meeting her demise. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/8842917f-efe9-4816-8906-446746ffd280/IMG-7999.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Tales to Keep You Up At Night by Dan Poblocki. Illustrated by Marie Bergeron https://www.bushrasbookbabbles.com/middle-grade-books/review-solimar-the-sword-of-the-monarchsnbspby-pam-muoz-ryan monthly 0.5 2023-07-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/2e9046bf-1724-4e1d-953e-8fe4755489ae/B09N45BZ5Q_c91a47a5_cover.jpeg Middle Grade Books - Review: Solimar: The Sword of the Monarchs&nbsp;by Pam Muñoz Ryan - Quick Info: Book type: Chapter Book Target age: 8-12 years old Recommended age: 7-10 years old Plot: The “almost princess” of her kingdom, Solimar, decides to break the rules and see the monarchs migrating from their forest where she is given the responsibility of caring for the weaker monarchs who are now magically enchanted in her robozo. Before she can figure anything out her palace is ambushed by a greedy king while her father is out in an expedition. With the help of her old (and new) friends she decides it’s up to her to help her people. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/7c8ba7fe-a800-40e6-9f81-65819ea14773/IMG-7996.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Solimar: The Sword of the Monarchs&nbsp;by Pam Muñoz Ryan - Context: This excerpt gives a general gist of how the butterflies are spoken about in a “spiritual gist”. https://www.bushrasbookbabbles.com/middle-grade-books/review-once-upon-a-timnbspby-stuart-gibbs-illustrated-by-stacy-curtis monthly 0.5 2023-07-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/a061bdad-0119-4b5d-95c6-dc688694fa01/81azZe9ZuFS._AC_UL600_SR600%2C600_.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Once Upon a Tim&nbsp;by Stuart Gibbs. Illustrated by Stacy Curtis - Quick Info: Book type: Chapter Book Target Age: 7-10 years old Recommended Age: None Plot: The adventure of Tim—a peasant—escaping his miserable life with his friend after a call for knights is sent through the land when the princess is kidnapped. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/1688417186668-U64SE8LE5878WNKRU8LP/IMG-7926.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Once Upon a Tim&nbsp;by Stuart Gibbs. Illustrated by Stacy Curtis https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/1688417186673-RPQ5XG3RO5498ULRK3WH/IMG-7923.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Once Upon a Tim&nbsp;by Stuart Gibbs. Illustrated by Stacy Curtis https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/f6f959cd-7830-43d2-ae14-c7aaaf26c35c/IMG-7924.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Once Upon a Tim&nbsp;by Stuart Gibbs. Illustrated by Stacy Curtis - Context: As an adult this sentence is a bit humorous but children are easily influenced and this vibe of constantly having something snarky to say about what an adult has to say is a big theme in the book. Although this may not be the best example, it is merely the first instance of it happening. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/8a6aa475-54e4-447f-aa68-75f166be0628/IMG-7925.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Once Upon a Tim&nbsp;by Stuart Gibbs. Illustrated by Stacy Curtis - Context: An “IQ Booster word” is a word the character will define and use in a sentence to help educate the reader. More often than not parents are at the brunt of the joke. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/865226d1-6839-4ada-9c9c-bd5aafd24c95/IMG-7929.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Once Upon a Tim&nbsp;by Stuart Gibbs. Illustrated by Stacy Curtis - Context: An “IQ Booster word” is a word the character will define and use in a sentence to help educate the reader. In this sentence the main character refers to his parents as “narrow-minded” and “unsophisticated”. He chalks it up to them being peasants. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/0b4056e7-0032-4449-aa33-aaea9f84232d/IMG-7979.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Once Upon a Tim&nbsp;by Stuart Gibbs. Illustrated by Stacy Curtis - Context: An “IQ Booster word” is a word the character will define and use in a sentence to help educate the reader. More often than not parents are at the brunt of the joke. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/678b4bf3-0d85-4b65-acbf-bf06cd810180/IMG-7927.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Once Upon a Tim&nbsp;by Stuart Gibbs. Illustrated by Stacy Curtis - Context: The characters find out the “village idiot” is actually smart and he explains his lineage of “idiots”. It’s just not the best message to give to kids. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/04a8d1df-5764-4800-bcf9-bf7f9e36b6ad/IMG-7928.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Once Upon a Tim&nbsp;by Stuart Gibbs. Illustrated by Stacy Curtis - Context: An “IQ Booster word” is a word the character will define and use in a sentence to help educate the reader. In this example the main character speaks directly to the reader about “Where babies come from?” https://www.bushrasbookbabbles.com/middle-grade-books/review-leave-it-to-plum-by-matt-phelan-p8yej monthly 0.5 2023-07-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/c59b1ef0-8d79-4532-8adf-cfac9a6b0050/5159zQebL8L.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Leave it to Plum! by Matt Phelan. - Quick Info: Book type: Chapter Book Target Age: 8-12 years old Recommended Age: 5-6 (Read aloud) & 7-8 (Independent) Plot: Plum is a part of the free range peacocks at his zoo & loves to mingle with the other animals & zoo visitors. However, not everyone loves the peacocks! Someone has framed them as thieves & it’s up to Plum to find out who. https://www.bushrasbookbabbles.com/middle-grade-books/review-haven-a-small-cats-big-adventurenbspby-megan-wagner-lloyd-c3272 monthly 0.5 2023-07-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/3695e09f-2260-47e6-88b6-b08d565523ef/91NZYnb3RGL._AC_UF1000%2C1000_QL80_.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Haven: A Small Cat’s Big Adventure&nbsp;by Megan Wagner Lloyd - Quick info: Book type: Chapter Book Target Age: 8-12 years old Recommended Age: 7-10 years old Plot: After Haven’s human—Ma Millie—falls ill Haven decides it’s up to her to leave their cabin in the woods and ask their neighbor for help. On her way she meets a fox looking for something new who promises to take Haven through a short cut. Haven doesn’t know if she can trust the fox but it turns out there’s something bigger and meaner following their trail. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/160ed1fa-21e8-47f4-a1b0-c86888e55019/IMG-7980.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Haven: A Small Cat’s Big Adventure&nbsp;by Megan Wagner Lloyd - Context: Haven asks the fox if she has a name by asking what her parents call her. The fox responds with “curious brat”—the name is never mentioned again. It is clear by Haven’s reaction that that word “brat” is an unsavory word. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/1688405643687-H7FP651CVVMNJ8M0SFH1/IMG-7915.PNG Middle Grade Books - Review: Haven: A Small Cat’s Big Adventure&nbsp;by Megan Wagner Lloyd https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/1688405642633-QIKC2VX4E7D79WYTVIKP/IMG-7916.PNG Middle Grade Books - Review: Haven: A Small Cat’s Big Adventure&nbsp;by Megan Wagner Lloyd https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/1688405641815-73FHAHKXGLQGZE4AG3U2/IMG-7918.PNG Middle Grade Books - Review: Haven: A Small Cat’s Big Adventure&nbsp;by Megan Wagner Lloyd https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/1688405642584-EBKAWBLNU1R8HKY94MPU/IMG-7917.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Haven: A Small Cat’s Big Adventure&nbsp;by Megan Wagner Lloyd https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/1688405641813-SR6DSSY4S2J80PHPSN3X/IMG-7919.PNG Middle Grade Books - Review: Haven: A Small Cat’s Big Adventure&nbsp;by Megan Wagner Lloyd https://www.bushrasbookbabbles.com/middle-grade-books/review-thirstnbspby-varsha-bajaj monthly 0.5 2023-07-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/b0678849-bf7c-49a9-82cf-23cfc0458722/0593354397.01.S001.LXXXXXXX.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Thirst&nbsp;by Varsha Bajaj - Quick Info: Book type: Chapter Book Target Age: 10-12 years old Recommended Age: 10-12 years old Plot: After 12-year-old Meena’s brother is seen by the “water mafia”—men who steal the limited water in her city and upcharge— he is sent away to stay low. At the same time her mother falls ill decides to stay with her sister in the country side to recover. Meena, must now taking on her mother’s job while trying to maintain her school life and home life but finds she doesn’t need to shoulder this burden alone. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/8d4ab8dc-6d90-4484-8a44-3f6d0e46dbe0/IMG-7938.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Thirst&nbsp;by Varsha Bajaj - Context: In hopes for making the water pump give more water the main character’s mother and some other women give the tap an offering of a marigold garland. In Hindu culture, marigolds are believed to symbolize bright, positive energy as they symbolize the sun. They are also believed to ward off negative energy and spirits. Though the main characters do not believe in it working . https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/6009612b-d9cd-4f44-92d2-401bd3e9783c/IMG-7939.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Thirst&nbsp;by Varsha Bajaj - Context: While the two siblings talk about the future the main character pretends to be a palm reader. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/52b0758a-d543-4efd-b124-45e908c22a93/IMG-7941.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Thirst&nbsp;by Varsha Bajaj - Context: The main character’s father believes in the “Three Wise Monkeys” Buddhist proverb. It means that if you do not hear, see or speak evil, then you will be protected/spared from from evil. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/44db34df-f5f5-490e-a173-bfc5a526bc0a/IMG-7943.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Thirst&nbsp;by Varsha Bajaj - Context: Faiza is the main character’s 12-year-old best friend. She goes to dance classes learning Bollywood song dances and is playful with the main character’s older 16-year-old brother. Their dynamic plays off as a more sibling-like than anything else. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/52426543-9ff1-494f-9b9d-55ed6d98e46f/IMG-7945.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Thirst&nbsp;by Varsha Bajaj - Context: After a close call with the water mafia the main character prays to the elephant-headed Hindu deity, Ganesh for protection. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/7d67ec79-7d60-4dd1-92bb-2825537601fc/IMG-7946.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Thirst&nbsp;by Varsha Bajaj - Context: The main character prays to the elephant-headed Hindu deity, Ganesh once more asking for protection. The idol is covered in marigolds as offerings. In Hindu culture, marigolds are believed to symbolize bright, positive energy as they symbolize the sun. They are also believed to ward off negative energy and spirits. The ringing of the bell is a sign of invoking a deity and a way of cleansing oneself. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/a45c9391-6a8c-4e45-86b4-db64913452b3/IMG-7947.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Thirst&nbsp;by Varsha Bajaj - Context: A rakhi bracelet is an ornate bracelet made by a boy’s sister or female cousin which is then tied onto his right wrist during the Raksha Bandhan festival. The bracelet symbolizes her support and is believed to provide protection due to their sibling/family bond. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/eb88c210-69be-4ad6-b731-a3457c068e8b/IMG-7948.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Thirst&nbsp;by Varsha Bajaj - Context: The main character’s scolds her brother for jumping across rooftops with his friends. He says when he does it he feels like Hanuman, a Hindu deity what is depicted as a flying monkey. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/e0bba421-d1c1-4cd2-802f-9bdb6796642a/IMG-7955.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Thirst&nbsp;by Varsha Bajaj - Context: The main character helps a friend sell magazines at the side of the road. When the friend refers to “….Bollywood stars looking like goddesses…” it is not clarified if she means literally dresses like Hindu deities or if they just look beautiful. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/1082cec4-0bd8-43d0-b75e-dcd0f8dbac0e/IMG-7956.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Thirst&nbsp;by Varsha Bajaj - Context: After a character is found dead in a gutter rumors spread he died of homemade alcohol. It is later revealed he was probably murdered and never drank alcohol. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/5bbb58f7-76f0-4174-adef-6f4d4f7f2c5a/IMG-7957.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Thirst&nbsp;by Varsha Bajaj - Context: Faiza, the main character’s Muslim best friend, wears an amulet “…to protect her from evil…” It is highly likely to be a “nazar” () pendant but it is not explicitly clarified. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/3a11a6bb-c929-4b5a-adf4-43af54c82e05/IMG-7958.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Thirst&nbsp;by Varsha Bajaj - Context: As the main character progresses through her technology class she related to a Hindu deity, Shakti. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/d7e3d47b-46a1-42df-a1e1-8654fa175b72/IMG-7942.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Thirst&nbsp;by Varsha Bajaj - Context: I’m sharing this excerpt because I found the friendship between the two best friends as very wholesome and sweet and a good representation of interfaith friendships. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/fdf000bb-1407-4c04-922b-76319a2496f8/IMG-7949.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Thirst&nbsp;by Varsha Bajaj - Context: The main character confides in her Muslim best friend about all the struggles her family is going through. The Muslim’s response is a great example for kids about making dua’a during hardships. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/4c136d31-e68b-4e67-b6f8-7a31fa7f4511/IMG-7959.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Thirst&nbsp;by Varsha Bajaj - Context: During the story the main character takes up her mother’s maid job while working and taking care of household chores. While being a maid she made instant noodles for the young girl that she serves. Seeing her mother make her a pack reminds her of her job working at Anita Ma’am and how much she appreciates her mother. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/9e9d2456-5f6b-4705-9443-0baa22d1fa37/IMG-7951.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Thirst&nbsp;by Varsha Bajaj - Context: A big theme of the book is how the main character’s community supports her during her struggles. This is a sweet excerpt of the character realizing how wonderful it is to be surrounded by people who love her. After she wakes up late to school the guard (knowing of her situation) sneaks her in, Faiza (her Muslim friend) brought her lunch and and her neighbor brings her dinner. https://www.bushrasbookbabbles.com/middle-grade-books/black-joy-edited-by-kwame-mbalia monthly 0.5 2023-07-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/50880012-77b0-46d5-840a-384948e3bc8d/0593379934.01.S001.LXXXXXXX.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Black Boy Joy, edited by Kwame Mbalia Quick Info: Book type: Chapter Book—Short Stories Target Age: 9-12 years old Recommended Age: None Plot: 17 short stories from different male and non-binary identifying authors on “Black Boy Joy” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/47b4af22-4a71-452b-9459-c99515393bcd/IMG-7910.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Black Boy Joy, edited by Kwame Mbalia - Context: This story is about a sports game at a family function. The main character’s brother is speaking about his boyfriend who is attending. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/1979a770-77c0-45cd-b1a5-793b1167c50c/IMG-7911.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Black Boy Joy, edited by Kwame Mbalia - Context: This story is about a boy trying to prepare for a game at school surrounding superhero knowledge. His brother’s girlfriend is visiting and is wearing a jean jacket with the pin “Love is Love”—a slogan coined by LGBTQ+ activists. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/1e7db500-ed50-4661-9e6c-8ab7b214b7c3/IMG-7912.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Black Boy Joy, edited by Kwame Mbalia - Context: This story follows a curious boy who loves learning about animals. The main character’s older sister takes him to the museum with her girlfriend. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/edb2d0e3-6c89-4c34-b5af-7d9ba891bdda/IMG-7913.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Black Boy Joy, edited by Kwame Mbalia - Context: This story follows a character overcoming his fear after a skateboarding injury. Haru is the main character’s friend who goes by they/them pronouns. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/7a0bddd2-de24-4bd8-80a7-865c4c883a28/IMG-7914.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Black Boy Joy, edited by Kwame Mbalia - Context: This story is about a boy who is nervous for his baking competition because he wants to win but also because he has a crush on his male competitor. He confides in his grandmother about his feelings and she tells him about her past romance with a girl. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/7593f272-2f93-452c-a7a7-35caa45e5cad/IMG-7893.PNG Middle Grade Books - Review: Black Boy Joy, edited by Kwame Mbalia - Context: This story follows a young boy who decides to come out as non-binary on his 13th birthday. At the party he decides to wear a half-tux-half-dress outfit (it’s a little hard to visualize). Additionally, he speaks about coming out as gay “a couple of years ago”, meaning he came out as an Elementary aged student. A conversation happens between the main character and his grandmother about his gay uncle. Additionally, he has a female best friend who makes comments about how attractive his father is—which is weird. The gallery below contains excerpts from this story. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/1688286598967-783A6HQOUW2JOS2N9ZXP/IMG-7894.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Black Boy Joy, edited by Kwame Mbalia https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/1688286596579-MXFVM8ARXGMG36Y230WW/IMG-7903.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Black Boy Joy, edited by Kwame Mbalia https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/1688286597293-F9MT79XJ1E00SA3TIKOG/IMG-7904.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Black Boy Joy, edited by Kwame Mbalia https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/1688286597345-8JN6PJBKVELE6YCWWPR7/IMG-7901.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Black Boy Joy, edited by Kwame Mbalia https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/1688286596549-RVHS0CPEE0DXG6757SGR/IMG-7907.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Black Boy Joy, edited by Kwame Mbalia https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/1688286597982-JXXZT7SVEQ4O2RJUTWHV/IMG-7899.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Black Boy Joy, edited by Kwame Mbalia https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/1688286598079-XUGBR7BJD4NUUVICODPD/IMG-7898.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Black Boy Joy, edited by Kwame Mbalia https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/1688286598958-SI6WALMP5SMIGZ8IV9A2/IMG-7897.jpg Middle Grade Books - Review: Black Boy Joy, edited by Kwame Mbalia https://www.bushrasbookbabbles.com/young-adult-books daily 0.75 2025-06-18 https://www.bushrasbookbabbles.com/young-adult-books/fearless-lauren-roberts monthly 0.5 2025-06-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/0a5ca050-2f7a-44eb-9c6d-7798e96428ee/fearless-9781665955461_hr.jpg Young Adult Books - Review: Fearless by Lauren Roberts - Quick Info: Book Type: Chapter Book Target Age: 12-18 Recommended Age: 14-16+ Plot: The third book to the Powerless series https://www.bushrasbookbabbles.com/young-adult-books/reckless-lauren-roberts-c75xf monthly 0.5 2025-06-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/c785aca8-d159-421e-a66f-904fc3622b77/reckless-9781665955430_hr.jpg Young Adult Books - Review: Reckless by Lauren Roberts - Quick Info: Book Type: Chapter Book Target Age: 12-18 Recommended Age: 14-16+ Plot: The second book to the Powerless series https://www.bushrasbookbabbles.com/young-adult-books/powerless-lauren-roberts monthly 0.5 2025-06-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/a6a060ae-b669-40f0-b721-0eb0398b644a/IMG_1088.jpg Young Adult Books - Review: Powerless by Lauren Roberts - Quick Info: Book Type: Chapter Book Target Age: 12-18 Recommended Age: 14-16+ Plot: Paedyn Gray, a thief born without powers in a world ruled by gifted Elites must disguise her ordinary identity to survive. But when she accidentally saves Prince Kai, she’s thrust into the purging trial where she struggles to survive. https://www.bushrasbookbabbles.com/young-adult-books/the-travelling-cat-chronicles monthly 0.5 2025-06-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/31680d61-f0f6-461e-acdc-9b640cc72e96/IMG_0999.jpeg Young Adult Books - Review: The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa - Quick Info: Book Type: Chapter Book Target Age: 13+ Recommended Age: 14+ Plot: In the perspective of a cat, this book follows Nana and his owner as they visit various old friends to see who can take care of Nana after Satoru can mysteriously no longer have him in his care. https://www.bushrasbookbabbles.com/young-adult-books/review-the-inheritance-games-by-jennifer-lynn-barnes monthly 0.5 2025-06-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/14d50cab-e386-42ea-a486-be27b0974b84/the+inheretence+games.jpg Young Adult Books - The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes - Quick Info: Book type: Chapter Book—Series Target age: 13+ Recommended age: None Plot: Avery Grambs is just trying to get by and make a better future for herself by winning a college scholarship. Her luck changes when billionaire Tobias Hawthorne mysteriously leaves her his whole fortune. The only catch is that she must move into the mansion with Tobias’ now disinherited family and attempt to solve the riddles left to her by the billionaire. https://www.bushrasbookbabbles.com/young-adult-books/from-blood-and-ash-by-jennifer-l-armentrout monthly 0.5 2023-08-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/c7b8fbe0-ad0e-4ead-88ba-d87cfc6adeec/From-Blood-and-Ash.jpg Young Adult Books - From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout Quick Info: Book type: Chapter Book Target age: 14-18 years old Recommended age: None Plot: Penellaphe Balfour, the Maiden who must remain “pure” and veiled is destined on her to “ascend” as a gift to the gods. https://www.bushrasbookbabbles.com/young-adult-books/a-hrefhttpswwwgoodreadscomenbookshow40916679a-good-girls-guide-to-murder-by-holly-jacksona monthly 0.5 2025-06-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/c29da762-271e-47fd-9dcc-41fd7feecfb4/obob-22-23-a-good-girls-guide-to-murder-paperback.jpg Young Adult Books - A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson</a> - Quick Info: Book type: Chapter Book Target age: 14-18 years old Recommended age: None Plot: Pippa, a highschooler and true crime fanatic decides to do her her final year project for school about the Andie Bell case. A girl who was allegedly murdered 5 years by her boyfriend, Sal Singh. https://www.bushrasbookbabbles.com/muslim-books daily 0.75 2023-12-20 https://www.bushrasbookbabbles.com/muslim-books/she-wore-red-trainers-naima-b-robert monthly 0.5 2023-09-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/b1364e5d-8079-4f48-a799-dac7bd855f32/71G1mW4rKZL._AC_UF1000%2C1000_QL80_.jpg Muslim Books - She Wore Red Trainers by Na'ima B. Robert - Quick Info: Book type: Novel Target age: 14-17 years old https://www.bushrasbookbabbles.com/muslim-books/review-unsettled-by-reem-faruqi-enraw monthly 0.5 2023-07-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/1785ed51-4de4-456e-b437-a2c07ecd9cc3/81Cv6MoqljL._SL1500_.jpg Muslim Books - Review: Unsettled by Reem Faruqi - Quick Info: Book type: Verse Novel (story told in poems) Target age: 8-12 years old Recommended age: 11+ Plot: A story about Nurah, a young girl from Pakistan, moving to Georgia and learning to “blend in”. When she and her brother are finally able to join a new swim team, Nurah now has to decide how much she will give up in order to stand out. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/1689306813821-V010OAITBXKPVDH5ZHSZ/IMG-8273.jpg Muslim Books - Review: Unsettled by Reem Faruqi https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/1689306813821-XLSE37MZHE3EDTFZUUZN/IMG-8279.jpg Muslim Books - Review: Unsettled by Reem Faruqi https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/1689306814489-04MRQ437KZZDV2OB3LTB/IMG-8290.jpg Muslim Books - Review: Unsettled by Reem Faruqi https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/1689307600940-TIHNNFT0NL6SVVSFAPQ9/IMG-8275.jpg Muslim Books - Review: Unsettled by Reem Faruqi https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/1689307600975-2RGMOKJQE7G8SOXLUXK0/IMG-8276.jpg Muslim Books - Review: Unsettled by Reem Faruqi https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/1689307601690-53HQCBJ7S5EIJ04QTNJW/IMG-8277.jpg Muslim Books - Review: Unsettled by Reem Faruqi https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/1689307601760-QM5GUZ3EYY50IX7B99MW/IMG-8291.jpg Muslim Books - Review: Unsettled by Reem Faruqi https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/cfcf6980-bbaf-4fb2-858d-f203c46661fc/IMG-8272.jpg Muslim Books - Review: Unsettled by Reem Faruqi - Context: On the main character’s first day of school, she panics when a non-Muslim boy, Aidan, tries to shake her hand and she just shakes it. She feels guilty for not speaking up and wonders what her grandmother would think of her. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/aa1a2c36-f292-4c08-8df6-344e348fa92e/IMG-8274.jpg Muslim Books - Review: Unsettled by Reem Faruqi - Context: The main character gets asked by Stahr to sit with her at lunch. Stahr tells the main character that she has an abusive father and makes her promise not to tell anyone. She also shows her bruises. Stahr and her mother end up leaving the abusive household. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/156b24ba-2544-406c-9209-6133e8068a06/IMG-8278.jpg Muslim Books - Review: Unsettled by Reem Faruqi - Context: Obligatory terrorist attack as a plot point in every kids and YA Muslim book. The father calls the terrorist an idiot. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/038e45d3-8880-44d7-b0a8-ca89358ca5d8/IMG-8283.jpg Muslim Books - Review: Unsettled by Reem Faruqi - Context: The family is staying in a hotel until they are able to find a home in Georgia which leaves all of them stressed. The main character’s mother calls the family to read Surah Kahf on Friday as they usually do. Owais, the main character’s older brother, decides he doesn’t want to and talks back to his mother. Which results in her slapping him and him threatening to call cops. After the two see that the main character is crying they immediately apologize to one another. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/a284db40-042f-405b-a9e4-dd45ee2f5df9/IMG-8285.jpg Muslim Books - Review: Unsettled by Reem Faruqi - Context: A pair of boys, Jay and Cal, are making fun of a man who is missing a hand on the bus. After a few weeks of watching the main character has enough and yells at them to “shut up”. They end up leaving the man alone for the rest of the book. The main later thanks the main character. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/6865fea2-2858-4cde-a8cb-b0122f8cc5e9/IMG-8289.jpg Muslim Books - Review: Unsettled by Reem Faruqi - Babbles: We’re so used to reading books about immigrating from the perspective of a child that sometimes we forget that the parents are also their own individual people. It was really interesting to see the main character realize that her parents are also starting from scratch and have the same desire to fit in that she does. It is also very wholesome and nostalgic to remember small programming in masjids. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/af56c655-f865-417d-bc67-e3a4b2e35d8c/IMG-8284.jpg Muslim Books - Review: Unsettled by Reem Faruqi - Babbles: It was refreshing to see a Muslim character turn to Allah SWT during times of hardship and seeing the masjid as a place of comfort. I would have loved to see more exploration of the main character’s friendships with the girls at the masjid. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/88b0b736-b754-42a8-9685-0bf7e6bc69a2/IMG-8282.jpg Muslim Books - Review: Unsettled by Reem Faruqi - Babbles: I don’t have much to add onto about this poem other than that I really liked how the author corrected the “z” sound in “Muslim” that non-Muslims tend to say. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/1689309503228-QA8J4P2L7PQ1YS3YPHN0/IMG-8287.jpg Muslim Books - Review: Unsettled by Reem Faruqi https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/1689309503247-TEXI5F6RKU6SHDOQ93AX/IMG-8288.jpg Muslim Books - Review: Unsettled by Reem Faruqi https://www.bushrasbookbabbles.com/texas-bluebonnet-awards daily 0.75 2023-09-18 https://www.bushrasbookbabbles.com/texas-bluebonnet-awards/texasbluebonnetawards2023-jn3s6 monthly 0.5 2023-07-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/cfaabd97-eb71-4040-af64-1719dee2f6b7/0593379934.01.S001.LXXXXXXX.jpg Texas Bluebonnet Awards - Texas Bluebonnet Award List 2023-2024 - Black Boy Joy, edited by Kwame Mbalia. Age: 9-12 years old Type: Chapter Book-Short Stories Content: 7 out of the 17 stories had characters or themes related to LGBTQ+ ideologies (lesbian, gay, bisexual characters) One of the stories follows a child’s coming out story as non-binary (child previously mentions his sexuality as gay in the story) Many of the stories have topics or themes of romance/crushes Music and concerts are painted in a positive light Minor degrading language (ex: stupid) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/244bbb4a-f6cc-4a5f-a8e1-ca5edd831d3a/51%2B4ppNCgKS._SX388_BO1%2C204%2C203%2C200_.jpg Texas Bluebonnet Awards - Texas Bluebonnet Award List 2023-2024 - 2. Blue by Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond. Illustrated by Daniel Minter. Age: 4-8 years old Book Type: Picture Book Content: Mentions of slavery in the sense of the more evil side of the indigo industry Mentions of people’s belief of protection with use of blue stones (in an informative way) Mentions warding off evil spirits in a cultural way through use of blue dye (in an informative way) A bit of a spiritual/mystical vibe to the whole book while still remaining informative. Erasure of Palestine https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/65b02039-b692-43cc-a74b-28f664c86c70/0593325605.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_SX500_.jpg Texas Bluebonnet Awards - Texas Bluebonnet Award List 2023-2024 - 3. Gladys the Magic Chicken by Adam Rubin. Illustrated by Adam Rex. Age: 3-7 years old Book Type: Picture Book Content: The discussion of a “potentially magical” chicken in an childish way The Shepard boy in the beginning of the story is referred to as “not so smart” but it is in hand with calling the reader smart because they go to school. He is referred to as “ugly” as well but eventually gets a glow up. The word “heck” is used once in an exclamation (“Well, heck—the Shepard Boy hadn’t seen his reflection since all those years before in that muddy puddle…”) The Princess is a bit sassy to her father by telling him to get out of her room but she warms up and it is chalked up to her being a moody teenager. For half a page a few buff male palanquin carriers and the Shepard boy are depicted shirtless in a non-explicit way. (Merely in relation to cultural clothing) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/de6a36d6-5135-4d76-82d3-d883e226dd25/91NZYnb3RGL._AC_UF1000%2C1000_QL80_.jpg Texas Bluebonnet Awards - Texas Bluebonnet Award List 2023-2024 - 4. Haven: A Small Cat’s Big Adventure by Megan Wagner Lloyd. Age: 8-12 years old Book Type: Chapter Book Content: Mild name calling (a fox says her parents call her a “brat”, bobcat calls foxes “sneaky & disgusting) There’s the obvious circle of life (fox eats some mice & a bobcat talks about hunting) and Haven herself is fearful of dying in the forest and there’s some scary imagery ( “…those jaws could snap closed around a little cat’s neck quite easily”). The biggest thing is an intense fight scene at the end where Haven ends up with an eye as “…bloodied mess” (you later find out it is injured beyond repair). Additionally, you can infer that a bobcat drowns (he was the antagonist so don’t shed a tear over him). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/70a0d585-3d59-4d36-83ed-552f89465d8a/9780593173275.jfif Texas Bluebonnet Awards - Texas Bluebonnet Award List 2023-2024 - 5. Indelible Ann by Meghan P. Browne. Illustrated by Carlynn Whitt. Age: 4-8 years old Book Type: Picture Book Content: Ann’s mother “…wrung a chicken’s neck from her birthing bed…” (wringing a chicken’s neck is mentioned once more in the book) Mentions of what a “woman’s role” is and “what a man’s role is” A character in the book is drawn wearing a pride flag when talking about Ann’s belief in “…taking care of all people” The back page speaking more on her life mentions alcoholism (it is not a part of the main story book) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/3c66958c-c097-4f51-9e04-9f4e243de4f6/6469144.jpg Texas Bluebonnet Awards - Texas Bluebonnet Award List 2023-2024 - 6. Invisible by Christina Diaz Gonzalez. Illustrated by Gabriela Epstein Age: 8-12 years old Book Type: Comic Book Content: Mild rude language (shut up, calling a kid garbage, nicknaming a teacher “the grouch” and calling said teacher a witch) Name calling (dumb, jerk, weirdo) Racial micro-aggressions The five kids end up banding together to help a homeless woman living in a van with her young daughter near the school and while the gesture is heartwarming the children do lie about helping her to the adults in their lives for a while before it gets exposed. The woman ended up being a genuine and kind individual but a “stranger danger” conversation with your child would be important. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/17dd8978-ef06-4096-a9e0-08d69aed2066/5159zQebL8L.jpg Texas Bluebonnet Awards - Texas Bluebonnet Award List 2023-2024 - 7. Leave it to Plum! by Matt Phelan. Age: 8-12 years old Book Type: Chapter Book Content: Character exclaims “drat” after losing a staring contest Character exclaims “why are those blasted birds still here?” A little ningbing makes a few mean remarks about the brains of some of the creatures (minuscule brains, bird brains) He warms up and is nicer in the end. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/e3c1d5e6-b094-4065-a71d-d69878abd14b/81azZe9ZuFS._AC_UL600_SR600%2C600_.jpg Texas Bluebonnet Awards - Texas Bluebonnet Award List 2023-2024 - 8. Once Upon a Tim by Stuart Gibbs. Illustrated by Stacy Curtis. Age: 7-10 years old Book Type: Chapter Book Content: The Prince is depicted in drawings with women in love with him (heart eyes) Prince would make “women—and the occasional man—swoon at his presence” Refer to a character having “the voice like an angel” when she sings (it’s pretty) Magic creatures (dragons, sphinxes, mutated frog-dog creature cursed by a witch) Name calling (jerky, coward, nutty, dumb, scary cat, dimwit, bonehead, ugly, loser. Idiot is used 19 times) “Darn” in emphasis (“pretty darn good”) “Heck” (“to heck with my quest…”) Gross humor: farts, “royal buttwiper”, butts, picking noses etc Spells, wizards & witches Belinda dresses up as a boy to become a knight because she can either be a housewife or a witch & doesn’t want to do either. She also lies to her parents a lot. Village idiot character Minor mentions of killing & death Speaks directly to reader when painting adults in negative light: “adults are often evasive when answering perfectly good questions that kids ask, like “Why are you allowed to use bad words when I can’t?” “Where do babies come from?”…(pg 61) IQ booster words example sentences make fun adults. For example “when mom passes gas the smell is malodorous”. Tim calls his parents as “narrow minded” and “unsophisticated”. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/11539dd5-cf7a-4cdc-ab36-8897f634be3b/B09N45BZ5Q_c91a47a5_cover.jpeg Texas Bluebonnet Awards - Texas Bluebonnet Award List 2023-2024 - 9. Solimar: The Sword of the Monarchs by Pam Muñoz Ryan. Age: 8-12 years old Book Type: Chapter Book Content: A spiritual element about the power/ancestors of monarch butterflies A “good witch” Childish magic stems holistic remedies (ex: “Wave eggs ‘round the body to displace spells” & “Camphor stops the hair from receding” Potions (the grandma tries to use a love potion on her two cats so they can like each other) Friendly, talking enchanted dolls The villains of the story vanish in a swirl of magical wind after angering the ancestors of the butterflies In the end, instead of making it possible for a princess to be leader they instead make Solimar a “regent prince”. Not in the sense of male gender identity. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/edcdf6a3-2820-4d17-981f-ba1e37b56f9b/B09TVMDGDX_f127b1df_cover.jpeg Texas Bluebonnet Awards - Texas Bluebonnet Award List 2023-2024 - 10. Tales to Keep You Up At Night by Dan Poblocki. Illustrated by Marie Bergeron. Age: 10-12 years old Book Type: Chapter Book—Short Stories Content: Amelia has two mothers in a lesbian relationship Themes of witchcraft Burning crow feathers to create a tormenting hallucination The spirits of a witch’s ancestors seek revenge on the ancestors of the man that murder her centuries ago and torment them if they don’t “spread their story”. A child creating living creatures from clay and then referring himself as “a god” Themes of death One story briefly mentions a dinner with someone’s “boss and his husband” Minor mentioning of hanging, drowning, murder Tarot card reading of the future Mentioning and description of blood https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/9fcbdf11-76f7-4103-b3f9-ac5cd2c83434/1536213616.01.S001.LXXXXXXX.jpg Texas Bluebonnet Awards - Texas Bluebonnet Award List 2023-2024 - 11. The Beatryce Prophecy by Kate DiCamillo. Illustrated by Sophie Blackall. Age: 8-12 years old Content: Goat called a “demon goat” (it’s not actually one, just an angry goat) Refers to demons occupying objects and people (ex. Edik’s eye—more likely he has a lazy eye) Mentions hauntings by ghosts Monks refer to themselves as prophets who receive prophecies that must be written in “the great book” The Chronicles of Sorrowing “tells the story of what has happened and of things that might yet happen, those things which have been prophesied” Name calling (coward, broken-eyed, fool) Story of angel and horse swapping body parts in “a trick of destiny” Cruelty & violence (abusive father who “beat the nonsense out of him”) Beatryce dresses as a male monk with a shaved head throughout the whole book (for her safety hiding from the King, not due to gender dysphoria) Refers to the devil (a scary man “sounded like the devil himself”) War, killing & death is prevalent (a character is traumatized at the death of his parents, a character nearly kills someone, Beatryce’s brothers are killed in front of her) An evil, ugly angel of death reveals herself to a dying soldier to tell him “it must be written down for a chance of forgiveness” the “it” turned out to be a confession of his sins (killing in the war—he talks about his killing for about 2 pages. He refers to killing children) Beatryce is referred to as bewitched (she isn’t, just a false accusation) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/7b01ec68-d08c-4805-8859-a7556d6a6ea4/0823438619.01.S001.LXXXXXXX.jpg Texas Bluebonnet Awards - Texas Bluebonnet Award List 2023-2024 - 12. The Dirt Book: Poems About Animals That Live Beneath Our Feet by David L. Harrison. Illustrated by Kate Cosgrove. Age: 5-9 years old Book Type: Picture Book Content: A “what if?” of a magical elevator” to take down into the earth. (just a childish magic “what if?”) Refers to moles as “furry demons on patrol” (demon in the sense of fiend, not spiritual) Mentions of mating & having babies in the sense of the circle of life (nothing really explicit just: “males are needed for mating” & “they start having babies”) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/010a3f83-68df-489e-89f0-05766adf8e80/0063084082.01.S001.LXXXXXXX.jpg Texas Bluebonnet Awards - Texas Bluebonnet Award List 2023-2024 - 13. The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza by Mac Barnett. Illustrated by Shawn Harris. Age: 7-10 years old Book Type: Comic Book Content: Cartoony shirtless men (once when moths eat the teacher’s shirt and a couple of beach scenes with a character in swim trunks) Mythical creatures (ex: werewolf) A cat has a brain “enhanced with microchips” Weird cartoony drawing of an evil scientist’s toenails Prophecy for “the one who will save the moon” A drawing of a beach scene where one character is in swim trunks for 3 pages and there are women’s backs depicted (though they are very small and hard to see and nothing with the men or women is intended to be proactive ) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/e188a4a5-a747-4368-bc8e-39d0c2cef580/0063006553.01.S001.LXXXXXXX.jpg Texas Bluebonnet Awards - Texas Bluebonnet Award List 2023-2024 - 14. The Last Beekeeper by Pablo Cartaya. Illustrated by C. Vélez Aguilera. Age: 8-12 years old Book Type: Chapter Book Content: Minor themes of “evolution of humanity” through technology (Nerolinks, humanity “evolving” without the use of nature) Speaks of man made created animals Yolanda’s sister has a male love interest it is mentioned that she has feelings for him. They interact and hug in the end. Mentioning of “googly eyes” but nothing more. Arelis calls her older brother “Stink Face” (in teasing endearment) Robotic augmentation on humans (some cyborg like limbs but the more complicated things like half-human half-robots as super soldiers) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/c1de4f4b-8f7a-48d4-80c6-04cfaecb6635/1536204951.01.S001.LXXXXXXX.jpg Texas Bluebonnet Awards - Texas Bluebonnet Award List 2023-2024 - 15. The Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat. Age: 8-12 years old Book Type: Chapter Book Content: Sai doesn’t speak highly of her dad, referring to him by his nickname “Mud”. Her last name is Mudawan so it’s possible to have stemmed from that. Later, Sai begins to understand her father’s actions and has a bit more mercy for him. She doesn’t completely antagonize him as she knows he would never force her to do anything she didn’t want nor hurt her. Sai begrudgingly helps her father commit forgery and other crimes East Asian spiritual elements: being blessed/cursed by spirits, selling souls to demons, stories of a monster eating misbehaving kids. People constantly bow (not in prostration) to elders in a sign of respect Sai bows (not prostration) to a shrine; others refer to praying to shrines. Sai makes an altar to give offerings to and to thank the spirits Magic dragons Mentions of gambling, card playing and pubs Name calling and unsavory language come in made up languages as well as English. (tripe, idiot, stupid, dog dung etc etc) Two mentions of children out of wedlock. One was unfaithful to his wife. (no graphic information was given for either instances. Both are plot devices) Sai says “I could kiss you!” to a boy in excitement (nothing happens though, he thought it was gross) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/cb8c6cca-92c7-42ba-922b-e3b8a1f837fd/91N-fWuxWML._AC_UF1000%2C1000_QL80_.jpg Texas Bluebonnet Awards - Texas Bluebonnet Award List 2023-2024 - 16. The Legend of Gravity by Charly Palmer. Age: 4-8 years old Book Type: Picture Book Content: None https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/70f694b4-0d0c-40a3-88b8-194a650efce8/1250174945.01.S001.LXXXXXXX.jpg Texas Bluebonnet Awards - Texas Bluebonnet Award List 2023-2024 - 17. The Marvellers by Dhonielle Clayton. Age: 8-12 years old Book Type: Chapter Book Content: Magic school so the usual childish magic: magic creatures, spell casting, elixirs, good luck charms, enchanted objects and magical powers. Muslim students literally practice shirk & magic A Hijabi student has 2 moms & enchanted hijab to help her remember things (+ other magical things in the story) A Hijabi student has a magic bejeweled lamp that she keeps close for her “djinn friend” to come and stay in because she’s “a nice one”. Summoning spirits Wearing crystals for protection Prophecies, looking into the future & past Card reading Conjurors go to the underworld with “divine responsibility” to guide the dead Magical Christian saint statues & doing rituals for removing spirits Referring stars in a spiritual way Possibly 2 non-binary characters Some creatures are “divine” in a spiritual sense Gambling & bets Mentions of death https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/e889effb-a253-4f4a-b4c3-80b85d3aa7ed/1665916109.01.S001.LXXXXXXX.jpg Texas Bluebonnet Awards - Texas Bluebonnet Award List 2023-2024 - 18. The Polter-Ghost Problem by Betsy Uhrig. Age: 8-12 year olds Book Type: Chapter Book Content: Excessive name calling (things like: revolting, troll-faced, nauseating, twerp, fool) The two brothers make up in the end of the book and are much nicer, so a lesson is learned. Minor language all said once in the book (dang, stupidity, shut up) Alluding to swearing 2 times in the book (Aldo says his father said “swear word, worse swear word laptop”. The literal phrase “swear word” is used) Alluding to swearing once when Nick shouts at the boys one time where there are … between the sentence or [onion chunk] (a metaphor explained in the book, it was funny) At one point one of the boys reassures a female ghost that when they can “look right through her” they mean she is translucent and not that they can see her underwear Two ghosts are married in a heterosexual relationship and call each other silly nicknames once at the end at their reunion (ex: Sweety-Petey) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/e6fbbbe0-9314-4682-8e34-6239691c7e34/0593354397.01.S001.LXXXXXXX.jpg Texas Bluebonnet Awards - Texas Bluebonnet Award List 2023-2024 - 19. Thirst by Varsha Bajaj. Age: 10-12 years old Book Type: Chapter Book Content: The main character is Hindu so she occasionally mentions Hindu gods and goddesses. Twice she mentions praying to them at a temple or feeling similar to them (ex: “I feel like the goddess Shakti…”) Mentioning of idols Mentioning of palm reading Her father believes in the “Three Wise Monkeys (“see no evil, hear no evil, say no evil”) Bracelets and amulets for protection Her best friend is a Muslim girl who takes Bollywood dance classes and is friendly with the main character’s teenage brother (there is a 4-5 year age gap and it is more of a sibling dynamic). The Muslim girl actually isn’t an awful character even mentioning once how she prayed to Allah to bless her friend’s family when they are going through hardships. Mentioning of alcohol Mentioning of death and killing Mentioning of the caste system https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/7d838fe8-56e8-4052-b235-9131d524272f/91uVwWEAgsL._AC_UF1000%2C1000_QL80_.jpg Texas Bluebonnet Awards - Texas Bluebonnet Award List 2023-2024 - 20. Unbound: The Life + Art of Judith Scott by Joyce Scott with Brie Spangler. Illustrated by Melissa Sweet. Age: 4-8 years old Book Type: Picture Book Content: None https://www.bushrasbookbabbles.com/babbles daily 0.75 2024-12-21 https://www.bushrasbookbabbles.com/babbles/opinion-should-my-kid-read-books-with-magic monthly 0.5 2024-12-21 https://www.bushrasbookbabbles.com/babbles/guide-quickest-way-to-finding-sexual-content-in-a-book-ke7et monthly 0.5 2024-12-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/35d6ec74-153b-43c0-9487-8849a9ba6404/IMG_0993.jpg Babbles - Guide: Judge a Book by its Cover—Why Parents Should be Wary of Cartoon Cover Novels https://www.bushrasbookbabbles.com/babbles/amd3hb8x8kvris0qj9d3vyolvwuzp7 monthly 0.5 2023-12-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/f0bd7f80-46db-430c-bb00-f105190c9f85/IMG_0113.jpeg Babbles - Opinion: Why I Will Not be Reviewing Percy Jackson Series Plot: The series starts with Percy, a 12-year-old boy, learning that his father is Poseidon and that Greek gods are alive and real. He gets shipped off to Camp Half-Blood with other half-human-half-god kids and his adventurers start from there. Age Range: 11+ https://www.bushrasbookbabbles.com/babbles/guide-quickest-way-to-finding-sexual-content-in-a-book monthly 0.5 2024-12-13 https://www.bushrasbookbabbles.com/babbles/should-i-let-my-child-read-this-book monthly 0.5 2023-09-13 https://www.bushrasbookbabbles.com/lesson-plans daily 0.75 2023-11-11 https://www.bushrasbookbabbles.com/lesson-plans/symbols-of-of-the-keffiyeh-olives monthly 0.5 2023-11-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/00d9c74f-67a3-45a8-b539-61f59aa09e91/Screenshot+%28191%29.png Lesson Plans - Symbols of of the Keffiyeh: Olives - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/171f30f2-7fa2-460b-93a0-c497f94024ee/WhatsApp+Image+2023-11-11+at+3.56.23+PM.jpeg Lesson Plans - Symbols of of the Keffiyeh: Olives - Let’s experience olives and olive oils with our senses! Set up a platter of different olives for your child to try, let them explore the texture and see if they can feel the oiliness on their fingers. How does the olive smell compared to the oil? How do fresh olives look compared to prepared ones? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/8bb8aa7c-13cc-4ffc-b823-20633ef57528/WhatsApp+Image+2023-11-11+at+3.56.22+PM+%281%29.jpeg Lesson Plans - Symbols of of the Keffiyeh: Olives - What about olive oil? Try dipping bread in some olive oil. Mix up the olive oil with some salt and pepper, fried garlic or za’tar for some new combinations. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/649fb95fced4b430860ff7b1/8104dc84-5f77-4a2c-b982-46aadbe53b29/WhatsApp+Image+2023-11-11+at+3.56.22+PM.jpg Lesson Plans - Symbols of of the Keffiyeh: Olives - Try adding za’atar to the mix! Muajanat or “za’tar pies” are also a great yummy treat to eat and very simple to make. Or you can try dipping bread in olive oil and zata’ar. https://www.bushrasbookbabbles.com/home daily 1.0 2023-12-21 https://www.bushrasbookbabbles.com/about daily 0.75 2023-07-11 https://www.bushrasbookbabbles.com/donate daily 0.75 2023-07-11 https://www.bushrasbookbabbles.com/bookrequestform daily 0.75 2023-07-01 https://www.bushrasbookbabbles.com/home-1 daily 0.75 2025-06-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/624b503beaa0101b5bdb9583/01e4cfef-6890-47bb-a04e-d5ad9b137fc0/125A2924.jpg