Musings of a Millennial Librarian

The Boy in the Black Suit By Jason Reynolds Reynolds, J. (2016).  The boy in the black suit . NY, NY: Atheneum / Simon & Schuster.             Matt Miller is starting his senior year three weeks late because his mom has just passed away from breast cancer.   When he arrives at school no one knows how to act around him since his mom dies, and he’s weirded out by it.   His best friend Chris comes up to him, and he ask him to just be normal around him.   Chris obliges and is one of the few people Matt can be himself around.   Matt is ahead in his classes, and can leave school at noon for work study.   Before his mother passed away he had a job line up at the bank, but while he was gone they filled the position.   He needs to find a job to keep busy and he wants to be able to help his dad out with bills.             Matt wen...

Paperboy By Vince Vawter 1)     BIBLIOGRAPHY Vawter, V. (2015).  Paperboy . New York: Random House USA Inc. 2)     PLOT SUMMARY Little Man lives with his parents and his black nanny Mam.   He has had a stutter all his life, and Mam is really the only one who understands him.   His parents, especially his father, try to help him out in a way they can and accommodate him to make his life easier.   He’s just finished the sixth grade, and its summertime in Memphis.   His best friend, Rat, is visiting his grandparent’s farm in July, and Little Man offers to run his paper route while he’s gone.   He knows that it will be a challenge for him, especially collecting the money on Friday, but he believes it will be beneficial in trying to overcome his stutter.   On the route, he meets Mr. Spiro who turns out to be the only person besides Mam that didn’t beat around the bush with him and treated him normal. ...

Our Only May Amelia By Jennifer L. Holm 1)     BIBLIOGRAPHY Holm, J. (2002).  Our only May Amelia . New York: Harper Trophy. 2)     PLOT SUMMARY May Amelia Jackson is the only girl in her family and along the Nasel River.   She has seven older brothers, but her Mama is pregnant and May’s hoping it’s a girl.   Everyone around her wants her to be a proper young lady, but she’s always on the lookout for her next adventure.   Her family says she’s a miracle being the only girl around, and often say that they only have one May Amelia Jackson.   Her favorite brother is Wilbert, and they often get into mischief together.   Amelia gets her foot caught in a trap while out fishing, and sets out to catch a murderer but ends up running into a bear.   She thinks her father hates her, but he only worries about her safety.   Her grandmother Patience comes to live with them, and stirs up trouble.   Patien...

Lily’s Crossing By Patricia Reilly Giff 1)     BIBLIOGRAPHY Giff, P. R. (1997).  Lily’s crossing . New York: Yearling Book. 2)     PLOT SUMMARY Lily always spends her summers in Rockaway with her Gram, best friend Margaret, and her Poppy comes up on the weekends.   It’s the summer of 1944, World War II is being fought, and her summer is different than usual.   Her friend Margaret and her family is headed to Detroit where he father will be building bombers in the factory.   Lily is sad that Margaret won’t be around, and knows that her summer will be lonely without her.   When Poppy comes up on Friday he tells her that the army needs engineers, and he’s headed overseas.   Lily is so upset that she doesn’t tell him goodbye.   Another new thing this summer is that the Orbans have their nephew Albert visiting from Canada.   Albert has traveled a long way from Hungary to escape the Nazis, but his siste...

The Hired Girl By Laura Amy Schlitz 1)     BIBLIOGRAPHY Schlitz, L. A. (2017).  The hired girl . Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press. 2)     PLOT SUMMARY Joan Skaggs was always a quick learner and lover of books, but her father decides that she can no longer go to school.   Joan’s mother passed away a few years ago and since then she has taken care of the house, garden, chickens, and cooks for her father and three brothers.   Her works goes unappreciated, she decides to go on strike with a few of her nonessential chores, and in retaliation her father burns her books.   That’s the last straw for Joan and she runs away from home.   Joan’s train arrives in Baltimore too late for her to find lodgings, and she finds a park in a nice area to stay for the night.   Solomon Rosenbach finds her, and offers her place to stay for the night at his parent’s house.   The Rosenbach’s hire her to assist their longtime ...