The backdrop for this novel is the 2015 Syrian crisis and the November 13th Paris nightclub attack that lead to a manhunt in Brussels, followed by the bombing of the Brussels airport. Thirteen-year old Max and his family have moved from America so his father can be a defense consultant to NATO. They now live in an upscale neighborhood in Brussels and while sister Claire attends The American School, Max is enrolled in a Belgian school where classes are taught in a language he barely understands.  He is bullied and feels stupid in class.
Fourteen-year old Syrian refugee Ahmed has lost his entire family in the Syrian War and during their escape to Europe.  He finds himself stranded in Brussels after having lost his last family member, his father, and his money and cell phone to an unscrupulous smuggler. He takes refuge behind an unlocked door to the unused wine cellar in Max’s townhouse.
The boys meet and bond and so begins the dangerous story of hiding Ahmed from the authorities and finding a place for him to thrive.
They make some friends and together learn about a historical parallel that took place in the same residential block seventy-three years earlier. During WW II someone hid an orphan Jewish refugee from the holocaust.  He was turned in by neighbors who were Nazi collaborators.  The boys are determined that this will not happen to Ahmed but as the police search for terrorists the danger escalates. 
 
"A resistance novel for our time." - The New York Times
"A hopeful story about recovery, empathy, and the bravery of young people." - Booklist 
"This well-crafted and suspenseful novel touches on the topics of refugees and immigrant integration, terrorism, Islam, Islamophobia, and the Syrian war with sensitivity and grace." - Kirkus, Starred Review

Tessa's Picks, 5-8th grade, Character Driven, Fast paced, Global perspectives, Historical Fiction.
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Hallelujah,Miss Eula is back! One of my favorite characters in Polacco's many wonderful books, this African-American grandmother takes the young Patricia under her wing when the author moves to California as a young girl. Before Trisha's own grandmother passes away through the "holes in the sky," she tells her granddaughter that she will send a sign that she is watching from the other side. 
The family moves to a diverse neighborhood in Oakland  where Trisha is befriended by Miss Eula's grandson Stewart. They join forces with the entire neighborhood to save a hurting neighbor and her dying garden. And Trisha finds her sign.
A heartwarming celebration of community, diversity and family.



​Tessa's Picks, K-3rd Grade, Family life, People of color, Picture books

Featuring a diverse cast of characters, this book sends the message that life is not color coded.  Just as boys and girls can enjoy race cars, unicorns, dress-up and baseball, they can like all colors as well. Every color is for every one! So express yourself in a rainbow of colors!

Felix loves to wear skirts; they feel fun and airy. He and his mom go to the store and buy him a new red one for the first day of school. Dad is a little worried about this decision and indeed Felix is teased when he arrives in a skirt.  After  discussing how unfair it is that girls can wear both pants and skirts but boys can only wear pants, he and his dad make a trip to the store. Both dad and son go to school dressed in twirly skirts and respond to the other boys' questions with "Today anybody can wear a skirt. Did nobody tell you?"
From then on no one asked Felix if he was a boy or a girl; they simply called him Felix.
The mom and dad in this empathetic book are so sweet and supportive. And the dad really rocks that green skirt.


​Tessa's Picks, K-2nd grade, Family life, Issues Fiction Picture books..

I asked my young adult granddaughter to write a review of this book because she was so impressed with it.  Here is her review:
(Don’t) Call Me Crazy  is a compilation of written and sketched material that gives the reader a look inside the mind of someone who is different from them or perhaps quite similar. It made me laugh, cry and relate. The symptoms of their mental diagnoses change the way these individuals operate and present many challenges. Their struggles are related to their behavior. They are not what has plagued them. They make it very clear that being open about mental illness is a crucial step in removing the false concept of what it is. These writers and artists express their disabilities so that others can too. Their voices come from a place inside of them that is vulnerable and honest.
This book should start a movement. People who have mental disabilities are getting helped by professionals, medication does work but not for everyone, and you should never be ashamed because working on yourself is brave. People who are not familiar with mental illness will also benefit from this book. They will understand that people struggle with symptoms that set them aside from others and fight to be understood everyday. Being sick does not make you a diagnosis. I am truly inspired by Kelly Jensen’s motivation to bring this very  important book to life. Read this book to learn about what many people go through. You will feel them there with you, comforting you with assurance and telling you the truth.

​Tessa"s Picks, 8th grade, Mental illness.
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