And Then Boom by Lisa Fipps

 

And Then Boom!  By Lisa Fipps  244 pages

Joe Oak is used to living on unsteady ground. His mom can't be depended on as she never stays around long once she gets “the itch,” and now he and his beloved grandmother find themselves without a home. Fortunately, Joe has an outlet in his journals and drawings and takes comfort from the lessons of comic books -- superheroes have a lot of “and then, boom” moments, where everything threatens to go bust but somehow they land on their feet. And that seems to happen a lot to Joe too, as in this crisis his friend Nick helps them find a home in his trailer park. But things fall apart again when Joe is suddenly left to fend for himself. He doesn't tell anyone he's on his own, as he fears foster care and has hope his mom will come back. But time is running out -- bills are piling up, the electricity's been shut off, and the school year's about to end, meaning no more free meals. The struggle to feed himself gets intense, and Joe finds himself dumpster diving for meals. He's never felt so alone -- until an emaciated little dog and her two tiny pups cross his path. And fate has even more in store for Joe, because an actual tornado is about to hit home -- and just when it seems all is lost, his life turns in a direction that he never could have predicted.

Written in verse so I finished this in one day.  Very sad story about a boy who is abandoned by his mother and ends up living on his own trying to survive. 

Deer Run Home by Ann Clare LeZotte

Deer Run Home   by Ann Clare LeZotte  209 pages

Effie and her older sister, Deja, have recently moved into their father’s trailer after an incident at their mom’s house. Daddy communicates with Effie by pointing, stomping on the floor, and making thoughtless jokes. Even if they did understand each other, could she tell the terrible secret she carries when telling feels impossible -- and dangerous? But what if telling is the only way to be seen? This tender, spare, emotionally charged story about the impact of abuse and the power of love explores what it feels like to be an outsider in your own family and to awaken -- through friendship, writing, and kinship with the natural world -- to a new understanding and appreciation of yourself.

I really enjoyed this book! It is written in verse so it was an easy read.  Very sad story about child neglect.  But I am very interested in the deaf community and this book shows how hard it is for them to communicate when there is not an interpreter.  
 

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson - 337 pages

This is a memoir written by Jacqueline Woodson of her childhood from being born in Ohio, living with her grandparents in South Carolina, and moving to New York City with her mother.  The memoir is written in verse.

This is a wonderful book that is very well done.  It's been on my list to read since it came out.  I picked up yesterday to read during lunch since I had forgotten my book at home.  I am so glad I did.  The poems are emotional while being sparse.  They convey so much description and feeling in 1-2 pages.  Her experiences growing up without her father, dealing with racial issues, and living as a Jehovah's Witness are expressed with honesty.  This is a book that I think most kids would benefit from reading. However, I also think that it is a book that will require a fair amount of hand-selling to get into the hands of kids.

2015 Coretta Scott King Medal - Author
2015 Newbery Honor Book
2015 Robert F. Sibert Honor Book

Coaltown Jesus by Ronald Koertge

Coaltown Jesus by Ronald Koertge - 122 pages

Walker and his mother have been mourning his brother Noah's death for two months.  His mother can't stop crying.  So Walker prays to God to help his mother.  He is shocked when Jesus actually appears in his bedroom.  Jesus is there to help Walker deal with his grief.

I was really looking forward to reading this book.  However, I didn't really care for it once I started reading it.  It is written in verse format which actually worked pretty well.  The poems were well done and told the story well.  However, you  never really connected with the characters.  The poems were too short to really draw in the reader.  Instead you just read them quickly.  In fact, I read the whole book in about 20 minutes.  Overall, a very disappointing read.