Author: Susan Uhlig

Posted in PB, Read-aloud, So Many Good Books

What Goes Up – a picture book

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

Perfect Picture Book Friday
whatgoesup-pb.jpgWhat Goes Up (Tiger Tales, 2013) by Paula Bowles is a darling story of persistence and hard work.

Martin is a sad dragon. His wings are too tiny to fly and he wants to fly. He tries various solutions, but “What goes up, must come down.” The village children who love him play a game of belief and imagination with him every day, and eventually . . . Well, you’ll have to read it to see what happens.

I love the humor in both text and illustrations. And isn’t Martin adorable?

Go here to see the other books Paula has illustrated or written and illustrated.

Posted in Award Winners, So Many Good Books

Insignia

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

insignia.jpgInsignia (Katherine Tegen Books, 2012) by S.J. Kincaid has the flavor of Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card.
Teen Tom Raines doesn’t know what a real family is like. He and his father flit from place to place depending on whether his dad still has money from gambling or not. That’s why Tom has taken on gambling himself with virtual reality games–he likes having food to eat and a nice place to sleep.
But someone has been watching. Tom is recruited for the military in the new way of fighting–virtually. He loves his new life, however, it’s not sure who will mess it up first, Tom, his father, or his stepfather.
This book is the first in a trilogy. I’ve ordered the second book, Vortex, and am sure I’ll read the third, Catalyst, after that.
You can see my recommendation of the author’s book The Diabolic here. It’s what got me looking at the S.J. Kincaid’s other books. Her website is here.

Posted in Award Winners, So Many Good Books, YA Novels

The Sun Is Also a Star

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

sunisalsoastar.jpgThe Sun Is Also a Star (Delacorte Press, 2016) by Nicola Yoon is an impactful book that covers a very short time period in the two protagonists lives. The book is mainly told from the viewpoints of two teens from immigrant families. We also get some insight with viewpoints of some other characters.
First, we meet Daniel who feels like he has to accept his destiny and become a doctor because his oldest brother has screwed up. Daniel’s family is from Korea.
Then we met Natascha who is angry at her father. Her mother says she should give up on trying to keep them in America. Her little brother thinks Jamaica will be better.
The two meet on the day Natascha’s family is being deported and the day Daniel is being interviewed for Yale. And what an amazing, frustrating, busy day they have. These two couldn’t be more different. One is a romantic, the other a scientist–you’ll have to read it to see which is which.
How could a story like this have a satisfactory ending? Well, it does.
This book is a National Book Award Finalist, Michael L. Printz Honor Book, and New York Times Best Seller.
Nicola’s unofficial bio makes me smile. I haven’t yet read her book Everything, Everything. I hope she keeps writing.

Posted in So Many Good Books, YA Novels

Who Killed Christopher Goodman?

Posted on by Susan Uhlig

WhoKilledCGWho Killed Christopher Goodman? (Candlewick Press, 2017) by Allan Wolf is a story based on a true crime. This YA historical novel, set in 1979, is inspired by the an event in the author’s past. The story is told in multiple viewpoints, including the killer’s.
Everyone likes teenager Christopher Goodman, even if he is kinda weird. But that’s what makes his murder even more shocking.
The characters whose voices we hear are Doc Chestnut–The Sleepwalker, Leonard Pelf–The Runaway, Squib Kaplan–The Genius, Hunger McCoy–the Good Ol’ Boy, Hazel Turner–the Farm Girl, and Mildred Penny–the Stamp Collector. They are all participating in the Deadwood Days street festival which everyone attends for some summer excitement.
It’s a story of broken and repaired friendships, love, hatred, revenge, hard work, and more.
Go here to see what else Allan has written and has coming out soon. His bio is here where you’ll find out he is a poet as well as an author.