booktalk Archives - Page 1269 of 1347

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl: Squirrel Meets World
by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale (Authors)

Booktalk: Fourteen-year-old Doreen Green moved from sunny California to the suburbs of New Jersey. She must start at a new school, make new friends, and continue to hide her tail. Yep, Doreen has the powers of . . . a squirrel! After failing at several attempts to find her new BFF, Doreen feels lonely and trapped, liked a caged animal. Then one day Doreen uses her extraordinary powers to stop a group of troublemakers from causing mischief in the neighborhood, and her whole life changes. Everyone at school is talking about it! Doreen contemplates becoming a full-fledged Super Hero. And thus, Squirrel Girl is born! She saves cats from trees, keeps the sidewalks clean, and dissuades vandalism. All is well until a real-life Super Villain steps out of the shadows and declares Squirrel Girl his archenemy. Can Doreen balance being a teenager and a Super Hero? Or will she go . . . NUTS?

Snippet: In the distance, Squirrel Girl could hear sirens.

“Um . . k, bye!” she said. She leaped from the car to the treetop and from there onto a roof. Tippy-Toe was a streak of gray beside her. As they jumped to another roof and out of sight, Squirrel Girl could hear cheering behind her. And a low chant that began to rise. It sounded like “Squirgle, Squirgle. . .”

On second thought, they were probably chanting, “Squirrel Girl, Squirrel Girl,” but “Squirgle” was nice too.

A Spy Called James: The True Story of James Lafayette, Revolutionary War Double Agent
by Anne Rockwell (Author) and Floyd Cooper (Illustrator)

Booktalk: Told for the first time in picture book form is the true story of James Lafayette, a slave who spied for George Washington’s army during the American Revolution. But while America celebrated its newfound freedom, James returned to slavery. His service hadn’t qualified him for the release he’d been hoping for. For James the fight wasn’t over; he’d already helped his country gain its freedom, now it was time to win his own.

Snippet: The war officially ended in 1783 with American victory, but there was no victory for James. While he received credit for his spying during the war, these activities didn’t earn James the freedom he expected. Such freedom was reserved for black soldiers in the American army, not spies.

It’s Nonfiction Monday!