Rutabaga's Reads 2020: Part 5

American Girl’s Girl of the Year line has previously included three stories for that year’s doll. Lately, it’s been two. If they happen to start up the third story again, I will add it to this post, but sadly, I don’t see that happening.

            I don’t think there’s any question, but I am in no way associated with American Girl or Mattel. I am simply a long-time fan of the American Girl brand. I purchased these books myself.

Joss (Dec. 26, 2019) by Erin Falligant.

Living in Huntington Beach, California, it’s no surprise that Jocelyn Elizabeth (Joss) Kendrick is a surfer girl, and she’s all in like her surfing idol Tina Hart. When the waves are good, Joss pops out her hearing aid (she’s completely deaf in her left ear and uses a hearing aid in her right), grabs her hand-me-down board once belonging to her 14-year-old brother Dylan and paddles into the waves with her Surf Sister Sofia Goto. Her oldest brother, 18-year-old Liam, can often be spotted surfing, and even the family dog, Murph, rides the waves in down at Dog Beach. Joss and Sofia are super stoked to enter a surfing video contest to win a chance to meet Tina Hart. Sofia is all-in with her recycled beach art (using shells, kelp, discarded trash left haphazardly on the sand), knowing Tina will appreciate it, but Joss thinks the only way to capture Tina’s attention and win the contest is by mastering a killer move like the frontside air, which her idol first achieved when she was 10 years old like Joss. Now they need Dylan’s masterful video-recording skills, but he tells her he won’t record them unless she makes the cheer team. What? No way. Joss is 100% surfer girl, and there’s no way she’s wearing a ginormous hair bow. But if it’ll help her win the video contest, then it’s worth it. Right?

            I was impressed with this latest from American Girl’s Girl of the Year (2020) line. It isn’t only a story marketed for 8-12-year-olds to enjoy with an active, athletic girl working to routinely balance fun, friends, responsibilities and trying new things. It’s also a story with a wealth of jargon – surfing, cheer and skateboarding – and features a character who cannot readily hear like so many can, even with the invaluable assistance of a hearing aid. “Joss” is lively and fun and as dramatic as the concerns of many a 10-year-old can be.

Joss: Touch the Sky (Dec. 26, 2019) by Erin Falligant.

Talk about a balancing act. Joss has discovered how to be all in 100% in more than surfing. She enjoys being on the Team Shine cheer team, and her athleticism courtesy of surfing and skateboarding helps her athleticism in cheer and vice versa. When the opportunity arises to become one of the team’s new flyers, Joss is excited. Move over thigh stands; bring on the elevators! The elevator combined with Mila’s lib is sure to give some stiff competition to Team Fury, the rival competitive cheer team in Huntington Beach. But when the act that Joss, Sofia, Brooklyn Tillman (Joss’ cheer teammate) and Murph perform for the talent show is a “dogtastrophe” and a scary wipeout occurs at Shadow Rock, Joss loses confidence. Now she doesn’t trust her teammates not to drop her, but that stems from the trust she’s lost in herself to perform the skill. If she can’t perform the stunt out of fear, will Coach Kara boot her from her position as a flyer?

            The second installment in 2020’s Girl of the Year line from American Girl is as sound as the first. Joss has accepted that she can do more than one thing, giving her all to whatever she’s working on at the time, be it surfing, cheer, skateboarding, etc., and know she isn’t any less by having multiple interests. But in this story, Joss shows us how debilitating a fear can be and how it can affect us, not only how we may lose trust in ourselves, but others around us that we’ve before trusted implicitly. This story is not only entertainment geared for middle-grade readers and fans of the American Girl brand, but a learning tool in story form. Believe in yourself. Trust yourself. Trust your team. Work hard. Be confident. Be you and be all in. 100%!

"What Momma Left Behind" by Cindy K. Sproles

What Momma Left Behind (June 2, 2020) by Cindy K. Sproles.*

While protected from outside diseases for a time in the Appalachian Mountains, by 1877, the “fever” (actually typhoid and influenza) is ravaging the Sourwood Mountain, Tennessee, community 17-year-old Worie Dressar lives in. Orphaned children are left behind, Worie included. She has two older brothers, who can feel like plagues themselves, with one brother (Calvin) full of avarice and malice while the other (Justice) is hardworking and sensitive when he isn’t a drunkard. She and family friend, Ely, are the ones who bury Momma. As days pass without her, starving youngsters begin appearing. It’s one of Momma’s secrets; she had been feeding orphans (mostly beans) who had no means to care for themselves. With Momma gone, Worie is overwhelmed with figuring out how to care for these “youngins” who keep showing up. But Worie won’t let them keep fending for themselves. She’ll work to keep them, raise them up and show them love. She’ll care for all of Momma’s children like she birthed them herself. After all, “families ain’t always shaped the way we think they orta be.”

            The magnetism of this historical, inspirational fiction novel is centered on the wonder of love and compassion manifesting in the hardest of times with an atypical heroine. Worie isn’t looking to be anybody’s hero and is, in fact, tenacious, opinionated, loud and often downright rude. Even at my current age, I can only imagine the stink eyes my own momma would give me if I ever gave anyone lip such as she does! But Worie is gritty and tough because she has to be. She struggles with her relationship with God since Momma’s passing, but there’s a stellar character in Pastor Jess, who’s good at popping up in odd places. Despite the gravity of being a survivor in Sourwood Mountain, this story is a kaleidoscope of forgiveness, ample love, restoration and faith. Sproles transports readers into history, right down to the speech of the characters.

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"Chosen" by Kiersten White

Chosen (Jan. 7, 2020) by Kiersten White.

*This is the sequel in a duology.*

*Includes certain SPOILERS.*

The Watchers Council’s castle has since become a refuge for downtrodden demons, um, within reason. For example, no lilliad demons allowed; magical broth made from the bones of human children is definitely not on the menu. Chaos demons will be considered, despite their slime factor. There is a vengeance demon in residence, but since the end of magic, Jessi has no powers and therefore cannot exact vengeance. They took her in “despite her obvious hatred for everyone over the age of ten.” Fortunately, this means that Jessi adores the Littles. Nina Jamison-Smythe is reeling, and she’s got her hands full. Her Slayer powers feel different since having them returned. She is overwhelmed by the loss of Leo Silvera and the absence of her twin sister, Artemis. Good riddance to Honora Wyndam-Pryce. She could die for all Nina cares, and it’s probably her fault that Artemis left, but in her favor, Honora does genuinely care about Artemis. Nina doesn’t feel she can share about the new darkness within (she’s very “murdery”) with just anyone, and on top of everything, there’s a new threat trying to rise. It’s portended by an odd triangle symbol and represents the Sleeping One, whoever that is. Is Sean and his demon drug ring connected to it? And if he is, are Artemis and Honora? Is Artemis going through some sort of teen-life crisis? Or is she just being selfish?

            Not being a Buffy fan, but knowing that the author is, I’m going to expect that this is a spot-on duology for those fans, doing it the justice that it should. I would expect nothing less from White. I am consistently entertained by the banter and Nina’s “murdery” thoughts, but I’m also charmed by Cillian’s devastation when he doesn’t get to name the kitten (better get another kitten). “Chosen” consistently focuses on the characters and the struggles within themselves and with one another. While it’s sugary sweet that Nina will bear the unbearable for her sister and love her despite anything, I struggled with that. Would I love a family member unconditionally if that family member pulled what Artemis did? I struggle to say yes, but I don’t have a twin sister; I don’t even have a sister. Anyone who has a twin sister definitely needs to weigh in on this!

            P.S. Pelly the unpellis demon, I would adopt it. (The unpellis is always prey and is so sweet that it would snuggle up to you as lovingly as a dog!)

            P.P.S. Do be firm with Tsip. She cannot have your eyeballs, even if she tells you it’s her birthday.

            Book One: Slayer