Firekeeper’s Daughter
Written by Angeline Boulley
Published by Henry Holt and Co Books for Young Readers
Ages 14+
Available March 16, 2021

Daunis Fontaine has plans to leave Sault Ste. Marie, a town along the Michigan-Canada border, where she never quite fit in. Daunis is torn between her mother’s wealthy family and her father’s Ojibwe community. She has always planned to leave the town to study medicine at the University of Michigan, but when tragedy rocks her family, Daunis decides to stay home and help her mother care for her ailing grandmother. Her half-brother Levi is thrilled, as is her best friend Lily. Levi soon recruits her to help train Jamie, the newest (and cutest) hockey member in their league, and Daunis finds herself looking forward to their morning runs. Those morning runs are where she fits in the most, though she has a sense that Jamie might be spinning ‘Guy Lies,’ falsehoods Daunis is all too familiar with. The latest ‘Guy Lie’ Daunis has to deal with is from Lily’s ex—they split when he began using meth. Lately, he looks more and more desperate. When Daunis witnesses a shocking act of violence, she is plunged into the world of FBI drug investigations. Daunis goes undercover to look into meth production and distribution, but what she finds is not at all clear and threatens the different communities she is a part of. Author Angeline Boulley’s exploration of Daunis’ relationship with the Sault Ste. Marie tribal community is excellent, particularly her relationship with her father’s sister. Her admiration and wariness of her Aunt Teddie is layered and at times fraught. Daunis’ choice to work undercover with law enforcement is partially driven by her desire to protect the Ojibwe community she is a part of. Boulley’s mystery moves at a quick pace, filled with adrenaline and cliffhangers, but always with a firm grounding in Ojibwe culture. Boulley does not flinch when it comes to the issues indigenous communities face: sexual assault, addiction, and violence–as well as the historical distrust in law enforcement authorities. Daunis has a tendency to fall into black-and-white thinking, and yet Boulley gives her (and readers) issues that are not so cut and dry. Boulley is a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and former director of the Office of Indian Education at the U.S. Department of Education. This #ownvoices read is a must for any collection.

This week on the Butler Bookshelf, we’re eager to dive into Yolk, the latest novel by Mary H.K. Choi. Yolk examines the relationship between two sisters, June and Jayne. Growing up, the sisters had a love-hate dynamic, and though they both live in New York City, they are now estranged. Older June is a corporate success, while younger Jayne is in fashion school, trying to make ends meet. When June reveals that she has cancer, the sisters’ silence ends. For more great reads, check out the list below!

Kidstory: 50 Children and Young People Who Shook Up the World (Stories That Shook Up the World)
Written by Tom Adams and illustrated by Sarah Walsh
Published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Available now!

Yolk
Written by Mary H.K. Choi
Published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Available now!

Abby, Tried and True
Written by Donna Gephart
Published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Available now!

Knight of the Cape (Definitely Dominguita #1)
Written by Terry Catasus Jennings and illustrated by Fatima Anaya
Published by Aladdin
Available now!

Amina’s Song (Amina’s Voice Book 2)
Written by Hena Khan
Published by Salaam Reads / Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Available now!

Out of Nowhere
Written and illustrated by Chris Naylor-Ballesteros 
Published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Available now!

The School of Information Studies and Butler Children’s Literature Center are fortunate to welcome Dr. Ebony Elizabeth Thomas and Renée Watson for the upcoming Follett-Butler Lecture—Fantastic Black Girlhoods: A Conversation with Ebony Elizabeth Thomas and Renée Watson.

When: Monday, March 29, 2021 at 6 p.m.
Where: Presented online
How do I join? Attendance is free with registration.

Join us in conversation with children’s literature scholar and critic Dr. Ebony Elizabeth Thomas and award-winning author Renée Watson as they discuss the current moment in literature for black youth and how it fits into the larger body of youth literature. Topics explored include the adultification of black youth, representations of black joy, and diversity within diversity. They will also share their hopes and recommendations for the teachers and librarians sharing books with, and building collections for, all young people.

If you’re too excited to wait for the lecture, dive into some of their work in preparation!

Ebony Elizabeth Thomas
For more information and links to her work,
visit her website here.

Books:

The Dark Fantastic: Race and the Imagination from Harry Potter to The Hunger Games (NYU Press, 2019)

Reading African American Experiences in the Obama Era: Theory, Advocacy, Activism (Peter Lang, 2012)

Articles and Interviews:

Thomas, E. E. (2015). “We always talk about race!”: Navigating race talk dilemmas in the teaching of literature. Research in the Teaching of English, 50(2), 154-175. PDF available from Researchgate

Thomas, E. E., & Stornaiuolo, A. (2016). Restorying the self: Bending toward textual justice. Harvard Educational Review, 86(3), 313-338. PDF available from Researchgate

Thomas, E. E. (2016). Stories still matter: Rethinking the role of diverse children’s literature today. Language Arts, 94(2), 112. PDF available from academia.net

From NBC Think: From ‘Harry Potter’ to ‘Hunger Games,’ here’s why fantasy struggles to include black girls.

From Penn Today: Children’s literature as ‘seed work’

From Book Riot: ENTERING THE DARK FANTASTIC WITH EBONY ELIZABETH THOMAS

Renée Watson
For more information and links to her work,
visit her website here.

YA Books:

Love is a Revolution (Bloomsbury, February 2021)
Watch Us Rise (Bloomsbury, 2020)
Piecing Me Together (Bloomsbury, 2018) 2018 Newbery Honor Book, Coretta Scott King Author Award
This Side of Home (Bloomsbury, 2017)
What Momma Left Me (Bloomsbury, 2019)

Middle Grade Books:

Ways to Make Sunshine (Bloomsbury, 2020) Golden Kite Winner
Ways To Grow Love (coming April 2021)
Some Places More Than Others (Bloomsbury, 2019)

Picture Books:

Harlem’s Little Blackbird: The Story of Florence Mills (Random House, 2012)
A Place Where Hurricanes Happen (Dragon Fly Books, 2014)

Articles and Interviews:

From School Library Journal: Finding the Vision for Some Places | A Conversation Between Renée Watson & Shadra Strickland

From BookPage: Renée Watson: Sorting through the good and bad

From CBS: Arts collective in Langston Hughes’ home carries on writer’s legacy

From NPR: ‘Piecing Me Together’ Novelist Says She Writes To Help Kids Feel Seen

From the International Literacy Association: Renée Watson on Literacy Connecting Readers

From The Horn Book: Profile of 2018 CSK Author Award winner Renée Watson

This week the Butler Bookshelf is celebrating women! Help us kick off Women’s History Month by checking out the titles below featuring great female pioneers and stories of what it means to be a woman. 

How to Spot a Mom
Written by Donna Amey Bhatt and Illustrated by Aura Lewis
Published by Wide Eyed Editions
Available now!

Sylvie
Written and Illustrated by Sylvie Kantorovitz
Published by Walker Books US
Available now!

Trail Blazers: Amelia Earhart: First Woman over the Atlantic
Written by Sally J. Morgan and Illustrated by David Shephard
Published by Random House Books for Young Readers
Available now!

Little People, Big Dreams: Megan Rapinoe
Written by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara and Illustrated by Paulina Morgan
Published by Frances Lincoln Children’s Books
Available now!

Welcome to Your Period!
Written by Yumi Stynes & Dr. Melissa Kang and Illustrated by Jennifer Latham
Published by Walker Books US
Available now!

Women in Chemistry: Science Wide Open
Written by Mary Wissinger and Illustrated by Danielle Pioli
Published by Science, Naturally!
Available now!

Monsters Among Us
Written by Monica Rodden
Published by Crown Books for Young Readers
Available now
Ages 14+

Catherine Ellers is not your typical college student home for winter break. She is reeling from a trauma she experienced just days before the end of her first semester. Her parents are worried, but she remains distant. Then, a young girl Catherine used to babysit is murdered. Rather than letting grief overcome her, she sets out to solve the murder. She enlists the help of a childhood friend and a new school acquaintance. The three go on a crazy journey to find the person who killed an innocent girl. But along the way, Catherine discovers she is not the only one keeping secrets.

Monsters Among Us is a dark and unsettling story about the reality of tragedy and the people we think we know. Rodden does an excellent job immersing the reader into the story. Using the omniscient 3rd person, her writing allows us to see the stories of all the characters, connecting us to their emotions. At times, the language can make the reader uncomfortable, which brings understanding to the seriousness of the trauma described in the book. It is not exactly a retelling of Wuthering Heights, but it has similar elements to the classic: the lengths one will go for love sometimes turn wicked. This murder mystery for young adults tells a story of pain, fear, and love, what it is like living with these overwhelming emotions, and how to face them head on.

This week, the Butler Bookshelf features the nonfiction read A year full of Celebrations and Festivals by Christopher Corr. This book invites you to learn about and celebrate over 90 festivals from around the world including Holi and La Tomatina. It is a fun read that enhances our knowledge of the cultures around us. For more great nonfiction reads about our world, check out the list below!

Kaleidoscope of Creatures: The Colors of Nature Explained
Written by Cath Ard and Illustrated by Greer Stothers
Published by Wide Eyed Editions
Available now!

A Year Full of Celebrations and Festivals
Written and Illustrated by Christopher Corr
Published by Frances Lincoln Children’s Books
Available now!

What’s Inside A Flower?: And Other Questions About Science and Nature
Written by Rachel Ignotofsky
Published by Crown Books for Young Readers
Available now!

Old Enough to Save the Planet
Written by Loll Kirby and Illustrated by Adelina Lirius
Published by Harry N. Abrams
Available now!

From Here to There: Inventions That Changed the Way the World Moves
Written by Vivian Kirkfield and Illustrated by Gilbert Ford
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers
Available now!

Try It!: How Frieda Caplan Changed the Way We Eat
Written by Mara Rockliff and Illustrated by Giselle Potter
Published by Beach Lane Books
Available now!

The Hazards of Love, Vol. 1: Bright World
Written and illustrated by Stan Stanley
Published by Oni Press
Available March 30, 2021
Ages 14+

Amparo knows they have to be a better person if they’re going to make their mother and abuela proud—and have a chance with their rule-following crush, Iolanthe. But where to start? They’ve already wound up with another suspension after pulling the fire alarm at school. When a smooth-talking, magical cat appears in Amparo’s window, it seems to be the key to figuring it out: all the cat needs is Amparo’s name and a drop of their blood. But then the cat steals Amparo’s body and name, and Amparo find themselves transported from Queens to a new terrifying, dizzy land called Bright World. This new world is treacherous: its economy is built on memories, and the world is full of magical creatures, all who want a taste of human flesh. When Amparo finds themselves nameless and ensnared in an indentured servitude scheme, they have to use their wiles to escape—even if it means seeking refuge with a menacing deer, El Ciervo, and taking on a new name, Fawn. The Hazards of Love is a fast-paced, delectable, creepy read. Stan Stanley’s Amparo-turned-Fawn is a wonderfully complex character, and the supporting cast are fully realized and intriguing. Stanley’s imagery, which splits its time between Queens and Bright World, is critical to the storytelling; Bright World is exactly that: filled with bright colors, as well as cars equipped with praying mantis legs rather than tires. But those bright colors are just at first glance. As Fawn gets closer to the truth of their new master El Ciervo, the images get more shadowy and steeped in noir. The panel storytelling divides The Hazards of Love into chapters, each chapter uncovering a new development in this long form mystery. The Hazards of Love is a collection of the first twelve installments of Stan Stanley’s black-and-white web comic; fans of Volume 1 can check out her website for regular updates.

This week, the Butler Bookshelf features The Beautiful Struggle: A memoir by Ta-Nehisi Coates. Coates describes his struggles growing up with a father who used tough love to raise him to be a proud black man in a racist society. But Coates just wanted to hang out and read comic books. His struggle to live up to his father’s expectations while also trying to be true to himself makes for a compelling memoir. For more amazing stories featuring African American protagonists, check out the list below!

The Year I Flew Away
Written by Marie Arnold
Published by Versify
Available now!

The Beautiful Struggle: A Memoir (Adapted for Young Readers)
Written by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Published by Delacorte Press
Available now!

Your Corner Dark
Written by Desmond Hall
Published by Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books
Available now!

Sprouting Wings: The True Story of James Herman Banning, the First African American Pilot to Fly Across The United States
Written by Louisa Jagger and Illustrated by Shari Becker
Published by Crown Books for Young Readers
Available now!

Little People, Big Dreams: Prince
Written by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara and Illustrated by Cachetejack
Published by Frances Lincoln Children’s Books
Available now!

Jump at the Sun: The True Life Tale of Unstoppable Storycatcher Zora Neale Hurston
Written by Alicia D. Williams and Illustrated by Jacqueline Alcantara
Published by Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books
Available now!