Atmosphere (Taylor Jenkins Reid)

 

I saw lots of social media posts with people crying and talking about how this was the best book they ever read....at least Taylor Jenkins Reid best book. I can't say I was that hooked by it. Space: not really my thing. All the way through it, I kept trying to figure out what is the main point of this? Is it about being strong women? Is it about speaking out for LGBTQ+ rights? Is it about not being afraid to be yourself. Is it about standing up for what is right and being a good person even when your family is brutal? Is it about friendship. 

I think it's about all those things. 

And the last 30 pages about tore my heart out. What an ending. I don't often cry when I read. This made me gasp....then the tears.

Great quotes:

Bravery is being unafraid of something other people are afraid of. Courage is being afraid, but strong enough to do it anyway.

Happiness is so hard to come by. I don't understand why anyone would begrudge anyone else for managing to find some of it.

Because the world had decided that to be soft was to be weak, even though in Joan’s experience being soft and flexible was always more durable than being hard and brittle. Admitting you were afraid always took more guts than pretending you weren’t. Being willing to make a mistake got you further than never trying. The world had decided that to be fallible was weak. But we are all fallible. The strong ones are the ones who accept it.

Just the act of falling in love was to agree to a broken heart.

Goodreads says:
Joan Goodwin has been obsessed with the stars for as long as she can remember. Thoughtful and reserved, Joan is content with her life as a professor of physics and astronomy at Rice University and as aunt to her precocious niece, Frances. That is, until she comes across an advertisement seeking the first women scientists to join NASA’s space shuttle program. Suddenly, Joan burns to be one of the few people to go to space.

Selected from a pool of thousands of applicants in the summer of 1980, Joan begins training at Houston’s Johnson Space Center, alongside an exceptional group of fellow candidates: Top Gun pilot Hank Redmond and scientist John Griffin, who are kind and easygoing even when the stakes are highest; mission specialist Lydia Danes, who has worked too hard to play nice; warmhearted Donna Fitzgerald, who is navigating her own secrets; and Vanessa Ford, the magnetic and mysterious aeronautical engineer, who can fix any engine and fly any plane.

As the new astronauts become unlikely friends and prepare for their first flights, Joan finds a passion and a love she never imagined. In this new light, Joan begins to question everything she thinks she knows about her place in the observable universe.

Then, in December of 1984, on mission STS-LR9, it all changes in an instant.

Fast-paced, thrilling, and emotional, Atmosphere is Taylor Jenkins Reid at her best: transporting readers to iconic times and places, creating complex protagonists, and telling a passionate and soaring story about the transformative power of love—this time among the stars.

Humble Pie (Jory John)

 

Jory John and Pete Oswald never disappoint. 

This one is interesting....by humble - but don't get kicked around! 

Goodreads says:

Serve up the eighth picture book in the #1 New York Times bestselling Food Group series from Jory John and Pete Oswald!

The Humble Pie likes to give others the spotlight. Aw, shucks!—they deserve it!

But when he’s paired with his best friend, Jake the Cake, for a school project, he soon realizes that staying in the shadows isn’t always as sweet as pie. Readers of all ages will laugh along as their new pie pal discovers that letting your voice be heard always takes the cake!

Jory John and Pete Oswald serve up another heaping plate of laughs and lessons with this empowering, witty, and charming addition to their #1 New York Times bestselling series!

Check out Jory John and Pete Oswald’s other funny bestselling books for kids ages four to eight and anyone who wants a

The Bad SeedThe Good EggThe Cool BeanThe Couch PotatoThe Smart CookieThe Sour GrapeThe Big CheeseThe Good Egg The Great Eggscape!The Bad Seed The Good, the Bad, and the Spooky!The Cool Bean As Cool as It Gets!The Big Cheese Have Yourself a Cheesy Little ChristmasThe Bad Seed Goes to the LibraryThe Good Egg and the Talent ShowThe Cool Bean Makes a SplashThat’s What Dinosaurs Do

When You Need Wings (Lita Judge)

 

This could be a good starting point for talking about looking inside yourself for strength when you feel anxious. 

Goodreads says:

On a day when you feel
like no one is listening,
and you wish you could just disappear,
shut your eyes and listen.
Do you hear it?
That isn't your heart.
That is the sound of your very own wings
beating within.

Lita Judge takes readers on an exploration of a child's imagination, weaving in a gentle suggestion of how to explore that bountiful inner world, and let it help them shine with courage in the real one.

As Brave As A Lion (Erika Meza)

 

Amazing illustrations! I could feel what it is like to stand at the top of a very high slide.

Kids should do hard things! This is my new motto amidst all the accomodating that seems to be the rage these days.

Goodreads says:

A child and her lion have a one-of-a-kind friendship in this vibrantly illustrated story of overcoming fears—and being there for each other when it matters.

No matter how fast I go, or where I end up, my brave lion sticks with me—my lion’s always there!

When she and her lion are together, one little girl feels like she can do anything. Whether she’s afraid of the dark, or too shy to speak and in need of finding her voice, her big, bold companion always looks out for her. But one day, the inseparable pair decide to climb the new, dizzyingly high rocket slide at the playground together, and the girl discovers that even lions sometimes get afraid. Can she summon the strength to be his lion when he needs her? Joyful, expressive artwork glowing with bright primary colors brings to life the story of a special bond—and a child’s discovery of unexpected courage.

Smart Cookie (Jory John)

 

Jory John is amazing! This story is brilliant.

My students don't really get many of the play on words....but they love the illustrations.

Goodreads says:

Be a smart cookie—and don’t miss the fifth picture book in the #1 New York Times bestselling Food Group series from creators Jory John and Pete Oswald!

This cookie has never felt like a smart cookie no matter how hard she tries, especially in comparison to all the clever cupcakes and brilliant rolls in the bakery. Will a dash of creativity and a sprinkle of confidence be enough to help her learn that perfect scores and having all the answers aren’t the only ingredients for intelligence?

Jory John and Pete Oswald serve up another heaping plate of laughs and lessons with this empowering, witty, and charming addition to their #1 New York Times bestselling series!

Mr Wayne's Masterpiece (Patricia Polacco)

 

Patricia Polacco is a story telling master. 

Notice and Note signposts: Good for words of the wiser! 

Goodreads says:

In this inspiring true story, beloved artist Patricia Polacco conquers her fear of public speaking, allowing her to discover her remarkable voice. A wonderful companion to Thank You, Mr. Falker and The Art of Miss Chew, it celebrates the lifelong impact of a great teacher.
 
Speaking in front of an audience terrifies Trisha. Ending up in Mr. Wayne’s drama class is the last thing she wants! But Mr. Wayne gives her a backstage role painting scenery for the winter play. As she paints, she listens to the cast rehearse, memorizing their lines without even realizing it. Then, days before opening night, the lead actress suddenly moves away, and Trisha is the only other person who knows her part. Will the play have to be canceled? It won’t be an easy road—when Trisha tries to recite the lines in front of the cast, nothing comes out! But Mr. Wayne won’t let her give up, and with his coaching, Trisha is able to become one of his true masterpieces.

Little Red (Bethan Woollvin)

 

Don't mess with the girl in this version of Little Red Riding Hood. 

Good storybook for contrasts and contradictions because we are so familiar with the regular story of Little Red Riding Hood that this one takes us by surprise!

Goodreads says:

Little Red Riding Hood meets a wolf on her way through the woods to visit her sick grandmother. The wolf is hungry, and Red Riding Hood looks tasty, so he hatches a dastardly plan, gobbles up Grandma and lies in wait. So far, so familiar. But this Little Red Riding Hood is not easily fooled, and this big bad wolf better watch his back. In this defiant interpretation of the traditional tale, the cheeky, brave little girl seizes control of her own story (and the wolf gets rather more than he bargained for).

I Color Myself Different (Colin Kaepernick)

 

I do a pretty good job of staying away from controversial topics in books and don't usually read them in my classroom. I put off reading this one because I thought it would be controversial. It isn't though. It was nice to learn a little more about Colin Kaepernick.

Goodreads says:

An inspiring story of identity and self-esteem from celebrated athlete and activist Colin Kaepernick.



When Colin Kaepernick was five years old, he was given a simple school assignment: draw a picture of yourself and your family. What young Colin does next with his brown crayon changes his whole world and worldview, providing a valuable lesson on embracing and celebrating his Black identity through the power of radical self-love and knowing your inherent worth.



I Color Myself Different is a joyful ode to Black and Brown lives based on real events in young Colin's life that is perfect for every reader's bookshelf. It's a story of self-discovery, staying true to one's self, and advocating for change... even when you're very little!

Brave As A Mouse (Nicolo Carozzi)

 

Love this story with a surprising twist. The mouse outsmarts the cats!

Goodreads says:

The friendship of a goldfish and a mouse is in jeopardy when three not-so-friendly felines want to play too.

A goldfish and a mouse become fast friends as they play in and around the goldfish's bowl.

But when three cats crash the party and terrify the poor goldfish, the brave little mouse gets an idea. She leads the three black cats on a wild and epic chase up and down and over and around until they find themselves surrounded by absolutely irresistible food in the pantry. The cats gorge themselves so much that they fall into a deep sleep, but the mouse knows they won't sleep forever. So the brave little mouse gets another idea to keep the goldfish out of harm's way for good!

Say Something (Peter Reynolds)

 

I bought this book quite a while ago and was waiting for just the right time to use it. 

This week our admin is doing a "book tour". They pick a book they want to share as part of a character theme and go around and read it to all the classes. This was the book. 

It has a great way of talking about how we can speak up in many different ways. 

Goodreads says:

The world needs your voice.
If you have a brilliant idea...say something!
If you see an injustice...say something!

In this empowering new picture book, beloved author Peter H. Reynolds explores the many ways that a single voice can make a difference. Each of us, each and every day, have the chance to say something: with our actions, our words, and our voices. Perfect for kid activists everywhere, this timely story reminds readers of the undeniable importance and power of their voice. There are so many ways to tell the world who you are...what you are thinking...and what you believe. And how you'll make it better. The time is now: SAY SOMETHING! 

Max and Marla Are Flying Together (Alexandra Boiger)

 

We laughed that the owl was afraid to fly....then had a great discussion about facing our fears.

Goodreads says:

From the #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator of She Persisted comes a book about friendship, flying, and facing your fears together.

Max and Marla do everything together. So when Max makes a kite and wants to go fly it, he can't understand why Marla doesn't want to join! And when an autumn wind makes a mess in their yard, Marla finds a perfect pile of leaves to hide away in. Little does she know that she can't avoid the kite forever! All she needs is the courage to believe in herself.

In this heartwarming tale of flying and fun, Max and Marla learn that the best way to face your fears is to have a best friend at your side. 

Lines of Courage (Jennifer A Nielsen)

 

I'm not good at war stories. I can't keep track of the battles, the locations and why each countries hates another. However, World War I did become a little clearer for me with this book. I became attached to each of the characters. One was from Austria-Hungary (Austrian-Hungarian?), one was British, one was French, one was German and one was Russian. The author's note at the end to explain some main aspects of WWI made things a little more clear for me. Of course, all the characters lives intersect and in the end they all come together....which was a little too convenient....but maybe that's okay when it comes to J fiction. 

I really enjoy Jennifer Nielsen's books and I also enjoyed this one. She does a great job of creating characters that are in difficult situations  all while making them relatable and inspiring.

I  really liked her note at the end. She said she wrote this during the covid-19 pandemic.  "...a time of heightened anxieties, worries about the future, frightening news headlines, and isolation. The First World War could be described in the very same way.....which is why lies of courage matter; those lines we extend from ourselves to offer strength and encouragement to others. And those that flow toward us, boosting our courage for whatever the future may bring."....World War I was called the "War to End All Wars." That didn't last long, of course, but may you be the generation that ends the conflict, whether on a global scale or in your community, or with your closest relationships. May you do so because nature wants to heal. And with a little courage, we will too." (from the author's note at the end of the book)

I'm all for anything that encourages people to end conflict. 

....which brings me to the Russian invasion in Ukraine....maybe she could write a book about that to help me make sense of it.

Goodreads says:

The stories of five kids living through World War I, each of whom holds the key to the others' futures... if they are lucky - and brave - enough to find each other.

World War I stretches its cruel fingers across Europe, where five young people, each from different backgrounds and nations, face the terror of battle, the deprivations of hunger, and all the awful challenges of war.

Felix, from Austria-Hungary, longs for the bravery to resist Jewish deportations before his own family can be taken.

Kara, from Britain, dreams of someday earning her Red Cross pin and working as a nurse - or even a doctor.

Juliette, of France, hopes her family can remain knitted together, despite her father's imprisonment, as the war's longest battle stretches on and on.

Elsa, from Germany, hopes her homing pigeon might one day bring her a friend from out of the chaos.

And Dimitri, of Russia, wants only to survive the front, where he's been sent with no weapon.

None of them will find exactly what they want. But the winds of fate may cross their paths to give each of them just what they need. 

Creature Choir (David Walliams)

 

We got a little silly with everyone making all the sounds the animals make. After, we brainstormed the lessons from it....and there were a multitude. David Walliams isn't just for silliness, after all!

Goodreads says:

Sing your heart out with a whole choir of characters, in the showstopping new picture book from number one bestselling author David Walliams, illustrated by the artistic genius, Tony Ross!


There’s more than one star of the show… In fact, there’s a whole choir of them!


Warble the walrus LOVES to sing.


Unfortunately, she is not very good at it! And when her atrocious warbling causes an avalanche, the other walruses leave her all alone.


But when you SING like no-one is listening, SOMETIMES, they start to hear you…


The perfect story for anyone who loves to laugh or sing, this brand-new story from David Walliams is a delightfully wonderful warble about doing what makes you HAPPY, and being LOUD about it! 

Sit (Deborah Ellis)

 

Deborah Ellis is brilliant. Each of these stories gives a unique glimpse into what life is like as a child. Adults are in charge. Life isn't fair. The children are considered less than....but they're not. They see more and understand more than many adults realize. Every single story was brilliant. It begins with the same story it ends with....only it's different.

Goodreads says:

The seated child. With a single powerful image, Deborah Ellis draws our attention to nine children and the situations they find themselves in, often through no fault of their own. In each story, a child makes a decision and takes action, be that a tiny gesture or a life-altering choice.

Jafar is a child laborer in a chair factory and longs to go to school. Sue sits on a swing as she and her brother wait to have a supervised visit with their father at the children’s aid society. Gretchen considers the lives of concentration camp victims during a school tour of Auschwitz. Mike survives seventy-two days of solitary as a young offender. Barry squirms on a food court chair as his parents tell him that they are separating. Macie sits on a too-small time-out chair while her mother receives visitors for tea. Noosala crouches in a fetid, crowded apartment in Uzbekistan, waiting for an unscrupulous refugee smuggler to decide her fate.

These children find the courage to face their situations in ways large and small, in this eloquent collection from a master storyteller.

Bertha Takes a Drive (Jan Adkins)

 

I love stories that teach us about history and how we sometimes are slow to accept change. People thought Bertha's car was ridiculous, dangerous and a threat. I loved how she knew all the ins and outs of the engine as well as the brakes. This was a resourceful woman! 

We read this on Epic.

Goodreads says:

In this nonfiction joyride, Bertha Benz and her sons drive across Germany in the world's first automobile.

It's 1888 and Bertha Benz's husband, Karl, has invented the prototype Benz motorwagen. But the German government declares the vehicle illegal, and the church calls it the devil's work. Unbeknownst to her husband, Bertha steals away with her two sons and drives nearly one hundred miles to prove just how amazing the motorwagen is. Bertha's mechanical savvy gets the boys to Grandma's house safely, and the remarkable mother/son road trip reduces global concern about moving vehicles. 

The Librarian's Stories (Lucy Falcone and Anna Wilson)

 

This is a powerful book. If I ever have to teach a class on the power of reading and how it can help you through tough times, this would be a great addition. 

Great stories have helped me through many difficult times. The librarian sitting on the bench telling stories amidst a war is a powerful symbol. I just read The Librarian of Basra to my class. This would be a great follow up - but right now. During covid, talk of war is a little too tough. I'll have to keep this one for another day.

Maybe this is why I enjoy scriptures so much as well - much of scripture is really simply stories.

At the back, the author writes:

I was inspired to write The Librarian's Stories after reading The Cellist of Sarajevo, a book based on the true story of a musician who played his cello for 22 days to mark the deaths of 22 innocent people killed after the bombing of a bakery during the Bosnian war.

As a writer, I believe in the power of stories to keep hope alive, to bring healing and light in the darkest of times. And who better to bring stories to families traumatized by war than a courageous librarian.

A second theme in The Librarian's Stories is the burning of libraries. Over centuries, thousands of them have been destroyed. One in particular stood out for me. During the Islamic Golden Age in the 13th century, an invading Mongol army set fire to all the libraries in Baghdad, and the books from the House of Wisdom were thrown into the Tigris River. There were so many of them that they created a bridge for the Mongol army to cross. Legend says that the paged bled ink into the river for seven days, draining them of their knowledge. When the books stopped bleeding, the courageous people of Bagdad started rebuilding their city.

Millions of books have been burned in the senseless violence of war. Many rulers in the past, and the present, feel threatened by stories and ideas and knowledge. They know that books can change people. They know that books can change the world. To them, this is dangerous. They don't want people to learn, to understand, to think for themselves. They don't want people to remember their history.

Goodreads says:
A village is left in ruins after the bombs fall. The beloved library is burned to ash. Food is scarce. Danger is abundant. Every aspect of daily life is changed. How will home ever feel as it once did?

But then one day, the Librarian emerges in the town square. Seated on a bench in front of the library's remains, she opens a book and begins to read aloud. The village children stop to listen. "Foolish woman," Papa says. "Too dangerous," Mama agrees, hurrying the children away. But day after day the librarian returns to her post, her voice carrying stories above the thunder of tanks and to the broken hearts of the people. Little by little, the persistent Librarian's stories seed hope in the people, and their village begins to mend.

Inspired by the bombing of the National Library of Sarajevo during the Bosnian War, and bombing of the library at the University of Mosul in Iraq, The Librarian's Stories is a testament to the enduring connection between stories and hope.

The Boy Who Dared (Susan Campbell Bartoletti)

 

I've been interested in reading this book for a long time and was glad to finally borrow it from the library.  It's well written. It tells his story with flashes forward to him sitting in prison waiting to be executed.

Because politicians have made (uneducated and inflammatory) comments about covid restrictions, a lot of people like to compare covid restrictions to Nazi's and what happened to Jewish people in World War II. I think they haven't quite read enough about what that time was like. It's not the same at all.

There are some amazing people in history. This boy was brave. I was also drawn to it because he was a member of my church. Interestingly, the author is not a member of the church. At the end of the novel, she cites the books she read to learn more about the church and how it might have influenced Helmuth Hubener. 

One moment really stood out to me. That was when his mother (Mutti), who is dating someone (Hugo) that is a Nazi sympathizer and knows of the terrible things he does, but remains silent. 

p. 72 Helmuth wrestles a sudden wave of nausea as he realizes what Hugo did last night. But it's Gerhard who says something when Mutti returns. "How can you?" he whispers to Mutti. "You heard the news. How can you not say anything?"

Mutti bites her lip, doesn't answer for a long time, and when she does, she speakes without looking at her sons. "Silence is how people get on sometimes. I don't expect you to understand."

Helmuth's disgust turns to pain for his mother and disgust for himself. He recognize silence.

It's a sad thing when you realizes the people you have always loved and admired don't have the courage to speak up for what is right, but instead, stay silent to get along.

I'm a little ashamed at church leader's response to Helmuth Hubener. It is another example of leadership Russian roulette that sometimes people come out on the losing end of in the church.  You can read about the church's response in Wikipedia:

Church reaction[edit]

The execution chamber at Plötzensee Prison

In 1937, the president of the LDS Church, Heber J. Grant, had visited Germany and urged the members to remain, get along, and not cause trouble. Consequently, some church members saw Hübener as a troublemaker who made things difficult for other Latter-day Saints in Germany. This recommendation did not change after Kristallnacht, which occurred the year following Grant's visit, after which he evacuated all non-German Latter-day Saint missionaries.

Local Latter-day Saint branch president, Arthur Zander, was a supporter of the Nazi Party, and had affixed a notice to the meetinghouse entrance stating "Jews not welcome". Ten days after the arrest of Hübener, on 15 February 1942, Zander claimed to have excommunicated the young man demonstratively, without consulting his church superiors or holding the church court normally prerequisite for excommunication or other discipline.

The day of his execution, Hübener wrote to a fellow branch member, "I know that God lives and He will be the Just Judge in this matter… I look forward to seeing you in a better world!" (excerpt from a letter written by Hübener, the only one believed to still exist).

In 1946, four years later and after the war, Hübener was posthumously reinstated into the LDS Church by new mission president, Max Zimmer, saying the excommunication was not carried through with the proper procedures. He was also posthumously rebaptized, ordained an elder, and endowed in 1948 to clarify that his membership in the church was never in doubt.

Goodreads says:

A powerful and gripping novel about a youth in Nazi Germany who dares to the truth about Hitler, written by a Newbery Honor Book author.

Susan Campbell Bartoletti has taken one episode from her Newbery Honor Book, Hitler Youth, and fleshed it out into a thought-provoking nonfiction novel. When 16-year-old Helmut Hubner listens to the BBC news on an illegal short-wave radio, he quickly discovers Germany is lying to the people. But when he tries to expose the truth with leaflets, he's tried for treason. Sentenced to death and waiting in a jail cell, Helmut's story emerges in a series of flashbacks that show his growth from a naive child caught up in the patriotism of the times, to a sensitive and mature young man who thinks for himself.

The One and Only Bob (Katherine Applegate)

 

Because I love The One and Only Ivan, I've wanted to read The One and Only Bob for a while. I read The One and Only Ivan every year with my grade 3 students one way or another: either as a read aloud or in grade 3 book club. The One and Only Bob came up for me as a Skip-the-line loan with the audio book so I jumped at it. I am ordering the book now! I think it will be our first for our adult Children's Lit club. 

Katherine Applegate is an author I'd love to meet. I wonder if she'd consider zooming into our book club? Hmmm....never hurts to ask! 

The story is told from Bob's perspective and the reader was Danny Devito. I listened to it while walking my dog and it made me smile the entire time. Entire time! It was pure genius. I loved hearing about life from Bob's perspective. Bob and friends get caught up in a hurricane. The story reminded me very much of the flood we had in Calgary because the zoo was right in the middle of the flood. What an experience!

The audio book was voted as one of the best of 2020!

Over the moon that #TheOneAndOnlyBob—narrated by the one and only @DannyDeVito—was named one of the best audiobooks of 2020 by both @audible_com & @ALA_Booklist! 🐕🧡

If you haven't given it a listen yet, you can check it out here: https://t.co/4Jb17WU1DC @HarperAudio pic.twitter.com/pPoJRuisjC

— Katherine Applegate (@kaaauthor) December 23, 2020

Goodreads says:

Bob sets out on a dangerous journey in search of his long-lost sister with the help of his two best friends, Ivan and Ruby. As a hurricane approaches and time is running out, Bob finds courage he never knew he had and learns the true meaning of friendship and family.

Where The Crawdads Sing (Delia Owens)

 

Kya is a girl who grows up alone because she is abandoned by everyone. Her father is abusive and this affects her mother so that she eventually leaves. She doesn't ever really recover from having her mother leave her, and eventually we find out that her mother never recovers from abandoning her children. No one really knows Kya. Even the people who do get close to her don't know her. She protects herself because of all the people that leave her. People make judgments about her and don't really ever give her a chance. It's heartbreaking to watch her endure the scorn from other people. Her ability to make sense of people through connections to her understanding of nature and animals is amazing. She has enough skills to survive on her own, but growing up so isolated really becomes a problem for her that she never really gets over. This was particularly interesting to think about in the midst of the pandemic right now where maintaining connections with people is not easy.

The wonderful thing about Kya is she really teaches that we can all do so much more than we think we can do. When things get really difficult, we usually find out we can do way more than we realize we can do. Kya pulls off everything she needs to do. She's witty and gritty and she gets it done.

When I finished this book I had just had to sit with the feeling it left me. The ending is a surprise and made me feel like I needed to sit and be in it for a while longer. 

This book reminded me of so many other books. It's a little bit like Hatchet because she has to survive on her own. It's a little bit like Tara Westover in Educated because her father is abusive and her family abandons her and even though she never goes to school, she learns to read, one day writes books and earns an honorary degree. It also reminded me of Looks Like Daylight, which was full of stories of First Nations kids and their connection to the land. It also has a murder trial just like To Kill A Mockingbird.

Meaning of the title: when Tate and Kya are looking for a place to hang out, her friend, Tate, suggests that they go somewhere “where the crawdads sing.” He explains to Kya that it means “far in the bush where critters are wild, still behaving like critters.”

Goodreads says:

For years, rumors of the “Marsh Girl” have haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet town on the North Carolina coast. So in late 1969, when handsome Chase Andrews is found dead, the locals immediately suspect Kya Clark, the so-called Marsh Girl. But Kya is not what they say. Sensitive and intelligent, she has survived for years alone in the marsh that she calls home, finding friends in the gulls and lessons in the sand. Then the time comes when she yearns to be touched and loved. When two young men from town become intrigued by her wild beauty, Kya opens herself to a new life–until the unthinkable happens.

Perfect for fans of Barbara Kingsolver and Karen Russell, Where the Crawdads Sing is at once an exquisite ode to the natural world, a heartbreaking coming-of-age story, and a surprising tale of possible murder. Owens reminds us that we are forever shaped by the children we once were, and that we are all subject to the beautiful and violent secrets that nature keeps. 

Spoiler alert:

Why did Kya keep the shell necklace?

The shell necklace that Kya gives to Chase becomes a manifestation of the dissonance between her desire to be loved and her wariness to let other people into her life. ... However, Kya ends up putting the shell on a necklace that she later gives to Chase as a gift.

Nevertheless, We Persisted: 48 Voices of Defiance, Strength and Courage (So many authors)

At  first, I started to feel like this book was a bit of a downer. Every chapter is a story of someone who is an underdog. As I pressed on though, it became more and more compelling to hear their stories. They are stories of people who not only persisted, but accomplished great things despite other people. The more I read, the more inspired I was. I think this book is one of those best taken in full doses. It reminded me of reading a book by Deborah Ellis on First Nations kids called Looks Like Daylight. It wasn't until I had really buried myself in the stories that the feeling took over. This is one of those books that can change you, if you let it.

Goodreads says:

A powerful collection of essays from actors, activists, athletes, politicians, musicians, writers, and teens, including Senator Amy Klobuchar, actress Alia Shawkat, actor Maulik Pancholy, poet Azure Antoinette, teen activist Gavin Grimm, and many, many more, each writing about a time in their youth when they were held back because of their race, gender, or sexual identity--but persisted.

"Aren't you a terrorist?" "There are no roles for people who look like you." "That's a sin." "No girls allowed." They've heard it all. Actress Alia Shawkat reflects on all the parts she was told she was too "ethnic" to play. Former NFL player Wade Davis recalls his bullying of gay classmates in an attempt to hide his own sexuality. Teen Gavin Grimm shares the story that led to the infamous "bathroom bill," and how he's fighting it. Holocaust survivor Fanny Starr tells of her harrowing time in Aushwitz, where she watched her family disappear, one by one.

What made them rise up through the hate? What made them overcome the obstacles of their childhood to achieve extraordinary success? How did they break out of society's limited view of who they are and find their way to the beautiful and hard-won lives they live today? With a foreword by Minnesota senator and up-and-coming Democratic party leader Amy Klobuchar, these essays share deeply personal stories of resilience, faith, love, and, yes, persistence.

"Each tale is a soulful testament to the endurance of the human spirit and reminds readers that they are not alone in their search for self. An unflinchingly honest book that should be required reading for every young person in America."--Kirkus, Starred review

"An invaluable collection of snapshots of American society."--VOYA, Starred review

"[A] gem of a book. . . There's a lot to study here and talk about on the way to becoming kinder, more empathetic, and most important, compassionate."--Booklist

"Readers encountering injustice in their own lives may be compelled to take heart--and even action."--Publishers Weekly

"A powerful collection of voices."--SLJ

"The sheer variation in writing styles, subject-matters, and structure to these narratives provides readers with inspiration in assorted forms and a complex interpretation of what it means to persist."--The Bulletin