BORDERLANDS AND THE MEXICAN AMERICAN STORY (Race to the Truth), by David Dorado Romo, Crown Books for Young Readers, Aug. 20, 2024, Paperback, $8.99 (ages 10 and up)

Learn the story of our country from the Mexican American perspective in Borderlands and the Mexican American Story, by David Dorado Romo.

The Mexican American story is usually carefully presented as a story of immigrants: migrants crossing borders, drawn to the promise of a better life. In reality, Mexicans were on this land long before any borders existed. Their culture and practices shaped the Southwestern part of this country, in spite of relentless attempts by white colonizers and settlers to erase them.

From missions and the Alamo to muralists, revolutionaries, and teen activists, this is the true story of the Mexican American experience. —Synopsis provided by Crown Books for Young Readers

More often than not, American history is told through a “white” lens. The problem is, America is not just a white country. It’s a blend of peoples and cultures of diverse skin tones, and by ignoring the past, it’s hard to understand the struggles of today.

Borderlands and the Mexican Story is part of Crown Books for Young Readers’ excellent Race to the Truth series. The series “Tells the true history of America from the perspective of different communities. Each book tells the story of our country from its very beginning to present. These books correct common falsehoods and achievements. They encourage readers to ask questions and approach new information thoughtfully.” Other books in the series include Exclusion and the Chinese American Story;  Colonization and the Wampanoag Story; and Slavery and the African American Story.

Author David Dorado Romo grew up and lived on the border between the US and Mexico. This provided him with a first-hand perspective when writing Borderlands and the Mexican Story. The book begins with native migrations before there were borders and moves through Spanish colonization in the Southwest and the Mexican American War. Romo focuses on the Mexican Revolution and the ethnic cleansing of brown America. Following WWII came the rise of the Chicano movement and the Hispanic decade before more recent issues surrounding the border.

Borderlands and the Mexican Story is expertly researched. Romo’s writing is clear and accessible. And black-and white images as well as information boxes help break up the text. This book would make an excellent supplement for public or homeschool classes.

About the author:

David Dorado Romo is a writer, translator, musician, and historian from the American southwest. He is a “fronterizo,” a person who grew up and lived on the border between the United States and Mexico. Steeped in the fronterizo spirit that strongly defines the attitudes of the U.S.-Mexico border region, Romo conducted a four-year search to document the important history of the area. The book that resulted from his work, Ringside Seat to a Revolution: An Underground Cultural History of ElPaso and Juarez, 1893-1923, “is a vital historical work for the Southwest,” commented Sergio Troncoso in the El Paso Times.

Copyright © 2024 Cracking the Cover. Unless otherwise noted, all books — digital and physical — have been provided by publishers in exchange for honest and unbiased reviews. All thoughts and opinions are those of the reviewer.

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MOUNTAIN OF FIRE: THE ERUPTION AND SURVIVORS OF MOUNT ST. HELENS, by Rebecca E. F. Barone, Henry Holt and Co. (BYR), May 14, 2024, Hardcover, $18.99 (ages 10 and up)

Learn about the events leading up to and following the eruption of Mount St. Helens in Mountain of Fire, by Rebecca E. F. Barone.

Mountain of Fire is the narrative nonfiction account of the violent volcanic eruption of Mount St. Helens on May 18, 1980, the story of the people who died, those who survived, and the heroes who fought to raise an alarm.

For weeks, the ground around Mount St. Helens shuddered like a dynamite keg ready to explode. There were legends of previous eruptions: violent fire, treacherous floods, and heat that had scoured the area. But the shaking and swelling was unlike any volcanic activity ever seen before. Day and night, scientists tried to piece together the mountain’s clues―yet nothing could prepare them for the destruction to come.

The long-dormant volcano seethed away, boiling rock far below the surface. Washington’s governor, Dixie Lee Ray, understood the despair that would follow from people being forced from their homes. How and when should she give orders to evacuate the area? And would that be enough to save the people from the eruption of Mount St. Helens?

Includes a QR code for a website featuring eye-catching photos of the eruption. —Synopsis provided by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)

Books like Mountain of Fire are the way to get young readers excited about nonfiction. From start to finish, it’s an engaging read that makes you want to know more.

Author Rebecca E. F. Barone has meticulously researched the topic, including first-person interviews with some of the scientists and survivors.

Barone’s writing is accessible and full of energy. Her pacing is spot on, building up anticipation with every turn of the page.

As an adult, I was glued to Mountain of Fire, and after describing it to my 10-year-old, it’s on her to-read list. I plan on purchasing a copy — my review is based on a digital advance review copy — and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it for older middle readers, young adults or adults. It’s excellent.

Copyright © 2024 Cracking the Cover. Unless otherwise noted, all books — digital and physical — have been provided by publishers in exchange for honest and unbiased reviews. All thoughts and opinions are those of the reviewer.

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EXCLUSION AND THE CHINESE AMERICAN STORY (Race to the Truth), by Sarah-SoonLing Blackburn, Crown Books for Young Readers, March 26, 2024, Paperback $8.99 (ages 10 and up)

Go beyond the building of the Transcontinental Railroad in Exclusion and the Chinese American Story, by Sarah-SoonLing Blackburn.

If you’ve learned about the history of Chinese people in America, it was probably about their work on the railroads in the 1800s. But more likely, you may not have learned about it at all. This may make it feel like Chinese immigration is a newer part of this country, but some scholars believe the first immigrant arrived from China 499 CE — one thousand years before Columbus did!

When immigration picked up in the mid-1800s, efforts to ban immigrants from China began swiftly. But hope, strength, and community allowed the Chinese population in America to flourish. From the gold rush and railroads to entrepreneurs, animators, and movie stars, this is the true story of the Chinese American experience. —Synopsis provided by Crown Books for Young Readers

Exclusion and the Chinese American Story is part of Crown Books for Young Readers’ Race to the Truth series. The series “Tells the true history of America from the perspective of different communities. Each book tells the story of our country from its very beginning to present. These books correct common falsehoods and achievements. They encourage readers to ask questions and approach new information thoughtfully.” Other books in the series include Borderlands and the Mexican American Story; Colonization and the Wampanoag Story; and Slavery and the African American Story.

In the case of Exclusion and the Chinese American Story, author Sarah-SoonLing Blackburn is from a mixed-race Malaysian Chinese and white American family. In her note to readers at the beginning of the book, Blackburn explains how the lack of representation in school lessons made her feel invisible. Though it’s impossible to cover every piece of Chinese American history, Blackburn has focused on “some of the important stories, the lesser-known stories, and the stories that will inspire you to want to learn more.”

And Blackburn has done just that. As readers delve into Exclusion and the Chinese American Story, they’ll gain a greater understanding of the racism and hardships Chinese Americans have faced and continue to encounter.

Blackburn’s writing is clear and conversational. She moves from topic to topic with ease, making it a good choice for older middle readers, ages 10 and up, as well as teens and adults. With lots of black-and-white photographs and an extensive bibliography, Exclusion and the Chinese American Story would make an excellent supplement for public or homeschool classes.

About the author:

Sarah-SoonLing Blackburn is an educator, speaker, and professional learning facilitator. She was born in Bangkok, Thailand, to a mixed-race Malaysian Chinese and white American family. A classic “third culture kid,” she grew up moving between various East and Southeast Asian countries and the Washington, DC, area. Her experiences first as a classroom teacher and then as a teacher educator inform her beliefs about the role that education can and must play in the realization of social justice. She has an MA in social justice and education from University College London’s Institute of Education. Her doctoral research at Johns Hopkins University explored strategies for retaining rural educators, and her EdD specialization was Instructional Design in Online Teaching and Learning. She is based out of Oxford, Mississippi. Learn more at sarahsoonling.com.

Copyright © 2024 Cracking the Cover. Unless otherwise noted, all books — digital and physical — have been provided by publishers in exchange for honest and unbiased reviews. All thoughts and opinions are those of the reviewer.

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SPYING ON SPIES: HOW ELIZEBETH SMITH FRIEDMAN BROKE THE NAZIS’ SECRET CODES, by Marissa Moss, Harry N. Abrams, March 12, 2024, Hardcover, $19.99 (ages 10 and up)

Learn about America’s first female cryptanalyst, Elizebeth Smith Friedman, who busted Nazi spy rings in Spying on Spies, by Marissa Moss.

One of the founders of US cryptology who would eventually become one of the world’s greatest code breakers, Elizebeth Smith Friedman (1892–1980) was a brilliant mind behind many important battles throughout the 20th century, saving many lives through her intelligence and heroism.

Whip-smart and determined, Elizebeth displayed a remarkable aptitude for language and recognizing patterns from a young age. After getting her start by looking for linguistic clues to the true authorship of Shakespeare’s writings, she and her husband, William Friedman, were tasked with heading up the first government code-breaking unit in America, training teams and building their own sophisticated code systems during the lead-up to World War I.

Elizebeth’s solo career was even more impressive. She became the Treasury Department’s and Coast Guard’s first female codebreaker and created her own top-notch codebreaking unit, where she trained and led many male colleagues. During Prohibition in the 1920s, her work solving and intercepting coded messages from mobsters and criminal gangs lead to hundreds of high-profile criminal prosecutions, including members of Al Capone’s gang. Her crowning achievement came during World War II, when Elizebeth uncovered an intricate network of Nazi spies operating in South America, a feat that neither law enforcement nor intelligence agencies had been able to accomplish.

Despite her unparalleled accomplishments, Elizebeth was largely written out of history books and overshadowed by her husband. Only in very recent years has her name begun to receive the attention it deserves, including the US Coast Guard naming a ship in her honor and the US Senate passing a 2019 resolution to honor her life and legacy. —Synopsis provided by Harry N. Abrams

Spying on Spies is another one of those books that kids will instinctively be drawn to just because of its title.

Each chapter begins with graphic novel-style panels that set the stage. Those panels are followed by short chapters that are comfortable to read. Author Marissa Moss’ writing is bright and accessible. Her almost conversational tone and strong pacing and a text that’s about 200 pages (with an author’s note and extensive timeline) make Spying on Spies a good option for more reluctant readers. A number of black-and-white photographs are also included.

Spying on Spies is a compelling story of an amazing woman who helped change the course of America’s history.

Copyright © 2024 Cracking the Cover. Unless otherwise noted, all books — digital and physical — have been provided by publishers in exchange for honest and unbiased reviews. All thoughts and opinions are those of the reviewer.

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SICK!: THE TWISTS AND TURNS BEHIND ANIMAL GERMS, by Heather L. Montgomery and Lindsey Leigh, Bloomsbury Children’s Books, Feb. 20, 2024, Hardcover, $19.99 (ages 8-12)

Learn about the organisms that make animals ill in Sick! The Twists and Turns Behind Animal Germs, by Heather L. Montgomery and Lindsey Leigh.

When a super sickness lands on the land, when a parasite becomes more than a pest, when an infection ignites an epidemic, what’s a body to do? Your body is an animal body, so why not ask the animals?

Follow the scientists, around the world and into their labs, who are studying animals and the germs that attack them. From fungus-ridden frogs with fevers to bacteria-resistant buzzards and everything in-between, animals have A LOT to teach us about infections. But-reader beware!!-the story of germs is filled with twists and turns.

In this nonfiction book packed with colorful, comic-style art, you’ll discover not only the cool ways that animal bodies (and our bodies) fight back against pesky pathogens, but also the amazing and surprising ways we can learn to work together with germs. —Synopsis provided by Bloomsbury Children’s Books

Sick! The Twists and Turns Behind Animal Germs is middle-grade gold. It features comic-style art and is full of stuff that kids simultaneously will say eewww about while asking for more. In short, the creators have made germs fun.

At the very beginning of Sick! The Twists and Turns Behind Animal Germs, author Heather L. Montgomery warns readers that the book isn’t a textbook or encyclopedia — it’s science in action, and that’s exactly what readers get. Montgomery has taken complex concepts and not only made them accessible but interesting, too. Artist Lindsey Leigh’s humorous illustrations further understanding. And, at less than 150 pages, it’s not too long for less confident readers.

Sick! The Twists and Turns Behind Animal Germs is sure to be a hit with kids ages 8-12. I can see this one constantly checked out from school, classroom and public libraries. It’s a nonfiction book kids will want to read.

Copyright © 2024 Cracking the Cover. Unless otherwise noted, all books — digital and physical — have been provided by publishers in exchange for honest and unbiased reviews. All thoughts and opinions are those of the reviewer.

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BRIGHT STARS OF BLACK BRITISH HISTORY, by J.T. Williams and Angela Vives, Thames & Hudson, Feb. 13, 2024, Hardcover, $19.95 (ages 8-12)

Bright Stars of Black British History, by J.T. Williams and Angela Vives, tells the story of 14 important historical figures.

Bright Stars of Black British History tells the life stories of fourteen Black British people and their contributions to the worlds of literature, theater, journalism, politics, medicine, sport, and music.

Carefully researched and eloquently written by children’s author J.T. Williams, Bright Stars of Black British History brings to life historical figures from Tudor England to the present day.

The book uses individual stories of important historical figures to lift the voices of enslaved and marginalized people. It makes clear the important influence that Black British people have had in shaping culture, shifting public opinion, and changing British history.

It also features sensitive portraits and contextual paintings by award-winning illustrator Angela Vives and functions as both a narrative-led story collection and a resource for schools. Illustrated in color throughout. —Synopsis provided by Thames & Hudson

Without even opening Bright Stars of Black British History, you can tell it’s a beautiful book. The embossed cover with gold features denotes something special. And once you open it, you’re not disappointed.

The book is divided into four main areas of focus — The Romans to the Tudors; The Elizabethans to the Georgians; The Victorians; and The Moderns. Each area begins with an overview of the time period and discussion of Britain and Africa and the role of Black people in Britain during those times. A glossary, bibliography, acknowledgements and an index are also included.

Author J.T Williams’ prose is informative and accessible. And Angela Vives’ beautifully rendered illustrations help readers place each historical figure not only in time but setting as well.

Bright Stars of Black British History would make a fine addition to a school or home library.

Copyright © 2024 Cracking the Cover. Unless otherwise noted, all books — digital and physical — have been provided by publishers in exchange for honest and unbiased reviews. All thoughts and opinions are those of the reviewer.

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