Whole Story of Half a Girl

Hiranandani, Veera. THE WHOLE STORY OF HALF A GIRL. Delacort Press. 2012. ISBN: 9780385741286

Sonia is a sixth grader who had been attending a small, private school all of her life. However, when her father loses his job, both Sonia and her sister must attend the local public school. Before changing schools, Sonia never gave much consideration to who she was and what she looked like, despite having an Indian father and Jewish mother. Yet, at her new school, this seems to be a common question asked by her peers. This now makes Sonia more conscious about trying to find her identity and ways to “fit in” (wherever that is). Within the story, the author also presents serious issues that impact many families today, including unemployment and depression. This book will resonate with many middle schoolers who struggle to find where they belong. Hopefully, like Sonia, they will discover that ethnic backgrounds, appearances, and socioeconomics do not matter and instead discover the importance of embracing who they are inside and out.

Reviewers have compared this book to those written by Judy Blume. I would have perhaps liked a little more background about Sonia’s father in terms of what he endured in India and his previous episode with severe depression. Overall, I enjoyed this book and think it will appeal to middle school students grades 5 and up.

Ice Island

Shahan, Sherry. ICE ISLAND. Delacorte Press, 2012. ISBN: 9780385741545

Shahan provides vivid descriptions of the Alaskan terrain and the brutal conditions that the young characters (Tatum and Cole) endured as they battled against the elements to survive. The descriptions of sled dog racing, the Siberian Yupik culture, and the inner drive of those who choose this extreme sport feel authentic. The glossary of Yupik words and dog sled terminology at the end of the book is a nice resource for readers. There were a few points where I would have liked a little more depth about the characters and their motivations.

This book will appeal to both boys and girls ages 10 and up who enjoy adventure and survival stories. Readers who liked Gary Paulsen’s Hatchet will also enjoy this book.

A Boy Called Dickens

Hopkinson, Deborah. A BOY CALLED DICKENS. Schwartz & Wade Books, 2012. ISBN; 9780375867323

The illustrations of this picture book are well done and help drive the story by depicting old London and the difficult childhood Dickens’ endured. Many people may be unaware of the financial struggles Dickens’ family faced when he was a boy, since the novelist kept this part of his life a secret for many years. While Hopkinson explains in her endnotes that the book is based on actual incidents and pieces that Dickens wrote about his own life, she does emphasize that it is a work of fiction. Readers will enjoy the overall message of the story of a young boy never giving up on his dream despite facing many difficult obstacles.

There are many very positive reviews for this picture book, however the topic and writing style may not resonate with all readers. There are many references to Dickens’ books and characters he created throughout this book, which may be unfamiliar to younger children. At times, I also felt the literary device of the narrator directly addressing the reader to be forced.

I would classify this book as an advanced picture book geared toward students in grades 3 to 5.