Tag Archives: Travel

Halfway Home: Drawing My Way Through Japan

halfway HomeAt 15, the cartoonist-author traveled solo to Japan to stay with her grandparents who live in Kashiwa, a small city outside of Tokyo, to rediscover her roots. She was born in 1997 in Japan and lived there until 2003, when her American father and Japanese mother moved the family to the U.S. She explores Japan with her Baba (grandmother), but also ventures out alone. She visits the trendy Harajuku neighborhood of Tokyo, where she enjoys a Japanese crepe. She rides the shinkansen (bullet train) to Kyoto to see the ancient Zen Temple of the Golden Pavilion, Kinkaku-Ji. Later, her family joins her and they travel to Tsukiji for sushi “worth waking up at 5 a.m.” for and to Shibuya to see the statue of the legendary dog, Hachiko. She is a smart observer. The book is a combination of expressive comics, illustrations, photos, and thoughtful and humorous prose. The title refers to her “somewhat feeling half at home in both Japan and America.” mjw
Title: Halfway Home: Drawing My Way Through Japan
Author: Christine Mari Inzer
Illustrator
: Christine Mari Inzer
Publisher
: Naruhodo Press
Copyright
: 2014
Original Language
: English
ISBN
: 978-0-9907014-8
Paperback pages
: 102
Age range
: 12 up
Genre
: Graphic Novel, Fiction
Book setting
: Japan
Author’s ethnicity
: Japanese-American, born in Tokyo
Author’s residence
: Connecticut, U.S.
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Japanese-American, born in Tokyo
Illustrator’s residence
: Connecticut, U.S.
Awards
: 2015 Benjamin Franklin Silver Award – Best New Voice: Children’s and YA (Independent Book Publishers Association)
Subjects
: Coming of age, Cultural exploration, Grandparents, Identity, Memoir, Mixed-race issues, Travelogue

The Red Bicycle: The Extraordinary Story Of One Ordinary Bicycle

The Red Bicycle CoverIn this amazing story about a red bike’s journey, Leo outgrows his bike and donates it to a charity which sends bikes to people in countries who cannot afford them. The bike touches all of the lives it encounters. The story invites readers to think about all of the ways a bicycle can help people.  The digitally-inspired illustrations incorporate elements of real acrylic and silkscreen textures. The book also includes excellent resources and activities for educators. ema
Title: The Red Bicycle: The Extraordinary Story Of One Ordinary Bicycle
Author: Jude Isabella
Illustrator
: Simone Shin
Publisher
:  CitizenKid, a trademark of Kids Can Press Ltd.
Copyright
:  2015
Original Language
: English
Original Publisher
: Kids Can Press Ltd.
Original Copyright
: 2015
ISBN
: 978-1-77138-023-2
Hardcover pages
: 32
Age range
: 8-12
Genre
: Picture Book
Book setting
: North America, Ghana, and Burkina Faso
Author’s ethnicity
: Canadian
Author’s residence
: British Columbia
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: American
Illustrator’s residence
: San Francisco Bay Area
Subjects
: Africa, Altruism, Burkina Faso, Bicycles, Caring, Charities, Helping others, Working

The God Beneath The Sea

The God Beneath The SeaThe ancient Greek gods and goddesses are brilliantly reimagined in this novel which combines classic Greek myths together to create one continuous story. The story begins when a hideous shrieking baby, later known as Hephaestus, falls into the sea and is raised by sea goddesses Thetis and Eurynome. From then on readers discover the origins of gods and man. This classic of English children’s literature with macabre illustrations effectively introduces young readers to Greek Mythology. ema
Title: The God Beneath The Sea
Author: Leon Garfield (1921-1996) and Edward Blishen (1920-1996)
Illustrator: Charles Keeping (1924- 1988)
Publisher: Doubleday
Copyright
: 2014
Original Language
: English
Original Title
: The God Beneath The Sea
Original Publisher
: Pantheon Books
Original Copyright: 1970
ISBN
: 978-0-875-53311-1
Paperback pages: 215
Age range
: 12 up
Genre
: Greek Mythology, Fiction
Book setting
: Ancient Greece
Author’s ethnicity
: Both English
Illustrator’s ethnicity: English
Awards: 1970 Carnegie Medal
Subjects
: Greek gods and goddesses,  Mythology, Reimaginings, Retellings

Cartwheeling In Thunderstorms

Cartwheeling in ThunderstormsEight-year-old Will enjoys her adventurous life in Zimbabwe. She enjoys living on an African farm with her best friend Simon and loving father. But when her father passes away, her new guardians send her off to an all-girls’ boarding school in London to learn proper manners and get her “savage” streak out of her. Will has to deal with the challenges of living on her own in a new country where no one seems to understand her. Rundell’s novel illustrates the importance of accepting your differences and finding unforeseen friendships. ema
Title: Cartwheeling In Thunderstorms
Author: Katherine Rundell
Publisher
: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers
Copyright: 2014
Original Language
: English
Original Title
: The Savage Girl
Original Publisher
: Faber and Faber Limited 
Original Copyright
: 2011
ISBN
: 978-1-4424-9061-1
Hardcover pages: 248
Age range
: 8-12
Genre
: Fiction
Book setting
: Zimbabwe and London
Author’s ethnicity
: grew up in Zimbabwe, Brussels, and London
Author’s residence
: London
Awards
: 2014 SLJ Best Books for Middle Grade, 2015 Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People for Third to Fifth Grade, 2015 Boston Globe/Horn Book Fiction Award Winner
Subjects: Africa, Boarding schools, Death, London, Orphans, Zimbabwe

Where The Streets Had A Name

Where the Streets Had a NameThirteen-year-old Palestinian Hayaat and her family have been uprooted from their home and are living behind the Israeli-built Separation Wall in Bethlehem on the occupied West Bank. She and her soccer-loving, Christian friend Sami decide to journey across the wall to Jerusalem, with an empty hummus jar, to get a handful of soil from her ailing grandmother’s beloved ancestral home. It is only a few miles, but checkpoints, curfews, barriers, and the permit system make crossing the border dangerous. They encounter armed soldiers, an Israeli peace activist couple, fellow travelers, and a young boy who needs a friend. Humor and a loving family keep the story light despite the violence, anguish, and suspense in the realistic 2004 war zone setting. This fascinating and heart-breaking story does end on a hopeful note.   A Glossary enhances the understanding of Arabic words used throughout the novel, which was written by the acclaimed author of the young adult novel Does My Head Look Big in This? mjw
Title: Where The Streets Had A Name
Author: Randa Abdel-Fattah
Publisher
: Scholastic Press, New York
Copyright
: 2010
Original Language
: English
Original Publisher
: Pan Macmillan, Australia
Original Copyright
: 2008
ISBN
: 978-0-545-17292-9
Hardcover pages
: 313
Age range
: 10-13
Genre
: Fiction
Book setting
: Jerusalem, Israel.  Bethlehem, West Bank, Palestine
Author’s ethnicity
: Palestinian and Egyptian heritage
Author’s residence
: Sydney, Australia
Awards
: 2011 Middle East Outreach Council Youth Literature Award
Subjects
: Arab-Israeli conflict, Grandmothers, Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Palestinian Arabs

A Song For Ella Grey

A Song for Ella GreySet in modern Northumberland, this intriguing retelling of the tragic love story of Orpheus and Eurydice is told by teenager Claire, Ella’s (Eurydice’s) best friend. Orpheus, a beautiful young man with a lyre and dreamy haunting music, appears and charms everyone. He and Ella fall in love and get “married” on the beach, with their artsy friends and some poisonous adders in attendance. A dark passage with eerie visual poetry follows, where Orpheus desperately searches for Ella in the Underworld. The enchanting and romantic writing about love, loss, and destiny makes this old myth fresh. mjw
Title: A Song For Ella Grey
Author: David Almond
Publisher
: Delacorte Press, and imprint of Random House Children’s Books
Copyright
: 2015
Original Language
: English
Original Publisher
: Hodder Children’s Books, London
Original Copyright
: 2014
ISBN
: 978-0-553-53359-0
Paperback pages
: 272
Age range
: 12 up
Genre
: Fiction, Mythology
Book setting
: Northern England
Author’s ethnicity
: English
Author’s residence
: England
Awards
: 2015 Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize, 2010 Hans Christian Andersen Medal, 2015 Shortlist Ireland YA Book Prize
Subjects
: Death, Greek mythology, Love, Music, Poetry, Underworld

The Bus Ride

The Bus Ride cover This book captures the thrills, fears, and excitement a child has when  experiencing something new. It is Clara’s first time riding on the bus to her grandmother’s house alone. Detailed illustrations, made by tiny strokes of softly colored pencils, and words are reminiscent of  “Little Red Riding Hood”. Similarities include Clara traveling to her grandmother’s house, a red sweater and picnic basket, and a family of wolves. Readers should pay close attention to the other character’s actions and newspaper headings which foreshadow upcoming events. ema
Title: The Bus Ride
Author: Marianne Dubuc
Illustrator
: Marianne Dubuc
Publisher
: Kids Can Press
Copyright
: 2015
Original Language
: French
Translator
: Yvette Ghione
Original Title: L’autobus
Original Publisher
: Comme des géants inc.
Original Copyright
: 2014
ISBN
: 978-1-77138-209-0
Hardcover pages: 40
Age range: 3-7
Genre: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity: French Canadian
Author’s residence: Canada
Illustrator’s ethnicity: French Canadian
Illustrator’s residence: Canada
Subjects: Busses, Bus ride, Fairytales, Friendly community, Independence, Little Red Riding Hood, Travel

Code Name Verity

Code Name Verity coverA British pilot’s plane crashes down in Nazi occupied France. “Kittyhawk” has a chance of survival, but her friend “Verity” is unlikely to survive. Verity is captured by the Gestapo and can either reveal her mission or be gruesomely tortured. Careful attention to historical detail makes Verity and Kittyhawk’s story believable. This riveting tale told in journal entries with literary references and plot twists is about a beautiful friendship forged in a dark time in history. ema
Title: Code Name Verity
Author: Elizabeth Wein
Publisher:  Disney-Hyperion
Copyright
: 2012
Original Language
: English
ISBN
: 978-1423152194
Hardcover pages: 352
Age range: 14 up
Genre
: Historical Fiction
Book setting
: England, France, and Scotland 
Author’s ethnicity
: American; grew up abroad
Author’s residence
: Scotland
Awards
:UK Literary Association Award Winner, 2013 Edgar Award Winner, 2013 Printz Honor Book, 2012 Boston Globe/Horn Book Award Honor Book, Shortlisted for the 2013 CILIP Carnegie Award, Golden Kite Award Honor Book, Shortlisted for the 2012 Scottish Children’s Book Award
Subjects: Adventure, Air Pilots, Espionage, Families, Flying, Female Friendships, Friends, Historical Fiction, Language, Nazis, Planes, Spies, War, Women Air Pilots, World War Two

The Wrath And The Dawn

The Wrath and The Dawn Cover 1The brutal Caliph of Khorasan each night kills his new bride before dawn breaks. This changes when Khalid marries Shahrzad. Shahrzad volunteers herself as the caliph’s bride. She wishes to get revenge for her best friend’s death by marrying the King of Kings and giving him the same fate as her friend. Although Shahrzad plans on killing the king, she realizes that Khalid is not the callous monster that she believed he would be. When Shahrzad falls in love with him, she must decide whether to follow her heart or avenge the lives of the caliph’s late wives.  The book’s gorgeous cover and fantastical end pages will entice readers to open the book, while the story will keep them mesmerized. The book also features a map of the book’s setting and a glossary of words readers may be unfamiliar with. The Wrath and The Dawn is a dazzling retelling of A Thousand and One Nights. This romance versus loyalty tale has beautiful imagery, great characterization, and magical elements which will leave readers craving for the next book. ema
Title: The Wrath And The Dawn
Author: Renée Ahdieh
Publisher
: G.P.  Putnam’s Sons, a Penguin Publishing Group
Copyright
: 2015
Original Language
: English
ISBN
: 978-0-399-17161-1
Hardcover pages
: 388
Age range: 14 up
Genre
: Fairytale Reimagining, Fantasy
Book setting
: Fantasy World Based on the Middle East 
Author’s ethnicity
: Asian American
Author’s residence
: United States
Awards
: A Junior Library Guild Selection, A Summer 2015 Kids’ Indie Next List Top Ten Pick
Subjects
: Arabian Nights, Arranged Marriages, Fairy Tale Reimaginings/ Retellings, Fantasy, Friendships,  Loyalty, Love, Magical Elements, Marriages, Middle East, Murder, One Thousand and One Nights, Persian, Relationships, Romance

Moribito: Guardian Of The Spirit

Moribito Guardian of the spiritBalsa is a formidable warrior. After she saves the Second Prince of New Yogo, Chagum, from an attempt on his life, the Second Queen hires Balsa to protect her son. The eleven year old second prince is the guardian of the water spirit, the Moribito. The Moribito is chosen every hundred years to deliver the egg of the water spirit to its home. Although Balsa realises taking the assignment puts herself in danger, Balsa’s heart empathizes with the innocent Chagum, and she vows to protect his life. This thrilling fantasy story based on Japan during the Middle Ages told in third person narrative from multiple viewpoints will captivate readers. Uehashi’s writing demonstrates that characters’  motives, desires, and actions do not always align. Moreover, this book illustrates  how differences in politics, traditions, histories, ethnicities and beliefs can impact people’s thoughts and actions.This English translated edition also features black and white action packed illustrations at the beginning of each part of the book, a glossary of character names, a list of places and terms, and a note from the author. Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit is the first book in a ten book fantasy series. There is also a manga series, and a subtitled and dubbed anime series in English based on the book series.      ema
Title: Moribito: Guardian Of The Spirit
Author: Nahoko Uehashi
Illustrator: Yuko Shimizu
Publisher
: Scholastic
Copyright
: 2009
Original Language
: Japanese
Translator
: Cathy Hirano
Original Title
Seirei no Moribito
Original Publisher: Kaisei-sha
Original Copyright
: 1996
ISBN
: 978-0545005432
Paperback pages
:  288
Age range
: 12 up
Genre
: Fantasy
Book setting
: Middle Ages Japan
Author’s ethnicity
: Japanese
Author’s residence
: Japan
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Japanese
Illustrator’s residence
: New York
Awards
: 1997 Sankei Children’s Book Award, 2009 Batchelder Award, 2009 Beacon Award, 2014 Hans Christian Andersen Award for Writing 
Subjects
: Displaced indigenous people, Family, Fantasy, Fathers, Fiction, Friends, Japan,  Middle Ages, Monsters, Mothers, Princes, Religious tolerance, Spirits,Traditions, Water Spirits

Shackleton’s Journey

Shackleton's JourneyThis large-format picture book tells of the rewards and trials of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s 1914 landmark expedition across Antarctica on the “Endurance.” The very detailed story includes the names of the dogs and all the crew, and quotations from crew members. Inventories of supplies, maps, and plans of the anatomy of the ship help to communicate this extraordinary journey. The unique, meticulous colored-pencil drawings in mostly blacks, blues, and browns evoke the adventure and excitement of the expedition. The ample use of white captures the snow and ice of the polar region. Included are a Table of Contents, and a Glossary of bolded words that appear in the text, such as crow’s nest, glacier, and sledge. mjw
Title: Shackleton’s Journey
Author: William Grill
Illustrator
: William Grill
Publisher
: Flying Eye Books, an imprint of Nobrow Ltd., London, New York
Copyright
: 2014
Original Language
: English
ISBN
: 978-1-909263-10-9
Hardcover pages
: 80
Age range
: 7-11
Genre
: Picture Book, Nonfiction, Information
Book setting
: Antarctica
Author’s ethnicity
: English
Author’s residence
: London
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: English
Illustrator’s residence
: London
Awards
: 2015 CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal, AOI Illustration New Talent Award Winner, 2014 NY Times Best illustrated Children’s Book Award, 2015 USBBY Outstanding International Book,  Wall Street Journal Best Children’s Book of 2014.
Subjects
: Antarctica; Biography; Exploration and discovery; Explorers; Polar regions; Shackleton, Ernest Henry, Sir (1874-1922); Ships

Written In The Stars

Written in the StarsPakistani-American Naila is a graduating senior at her high school in Florida. She has a college scholarship to become a medical student and she is in love with a wonderful boy named Saif. She has to keep Saif a secret from her conservative immigrant parents. They want what they think is best for her and the choosing of her husband is left up to them with no input from her. But they do find out and they are furious. They whisk her off to Pakistan to find her roots and a husband. Naila has to endure so much – terror, anguish, and loneliness. Everything she knew, loved, and dreamed was taken from her. She is drugged, threatened with shame and death, and coerced into an unwanted, forced marriage. Naila’s first person account of the Pakistan world – huge families, marketplaces, homes, buses, and cuisine – add an extra dimension to this heart-wrenching, but ultimately hopeful novel. A touching Author’s Note explains the difference between arranged and forced marriages and that forced marriages can happen in any country, culture, or religion. Though they are opposed everywhere, they are real and dangerous. Also included are a Glossary and Resources for advice and help. mjw

Title: Written In The Stars
Author: Aisha Saeed
Publisher
: Nancy Paulsen Books, Penguin Young Readers Group, New York
Copyright
: 2015
Original Language
: English
ISBN
: 978-0-399-17170-3
Hardcover pages
: 284
Age range
: 14 up
Genre
: Fiction
Book setting
: Pakistan and Florida
Author’s ethnicity
: Pakistani-American
Author’s residence
: U.S.
Subjects
: Arranged marriages, Dating, Forced marriages, Love stories, Marriage, Pakistani-Americans, Relationships.