True to her own self
George By Alex Gino (Scholastic; 195 pages; $16.99; ages 8-12)
Be who you are. That’s the imperative on the back cover of this ground-breaking novel about a fourth-grade boy who feels he is a girl. Throughout, feminine pronouns help embody George’s secret life. (She can’t tell her single mom or brother how she identifies, nor can she openly read her teen fashion magazines.) Teasing and bullying do not dissuade George from auditioning for Charlotte in the class production of “Charlotte’s Web.” Bias denies her the part, which goes to her best friend, Kelly, before a clever switch. With the courage to be authentic, George is a sympathetic figure. What’s it like for a boy to play a female spider or be called Melissa or dress like a girl? Answering with sensitivity, this provocative novel humanizes one transgender kid, questions old assumptions, and models what compassion can look like.
Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad By M.T. Anderson (Candlewick; 464 pages; $24.99; ages 14-up)
President Reagan once called the Soviet Union an “evil empire.” He was right on that score, and proof comes in this dense and intense biography of a conflicted and controversial Russian composer. Born in 1906, Shostakovich experiences revolution, purges and world wars, barely able to balance artistic expression and political correctness, acclaim and vilification. It’s just sickening to read graphic descriptions of Stalin’s cruel rule and the horrific 900-day German siege of Leningrad, commemorated in the Shostakovich Symphony No. 7. Richly layered with personal stories, cultural history and music theory, this scholarly masterpiece focuses on how that symphony strengthened Allied resolve and on how Shostakovich struggled over a lifetime to challenge convention, satisfy the state and raise the human spirit. What’s missing? A CD, so readers, serious teens and adults alike, can better know both the man and his music.
Fright Club By Ethan Long (Bloomsbury; 32 pages; $16.99; ages 4-6)
This Halloween picture book arrives none too soon. Kids are already planning. (I heard them myself in the first days of school.) Dark and comical pencil drawings well suit all four founding members of the Fright Club — Vladimir the Vampire, Frank K. Stein, Sandy Witch and Virginia Wolf. Their raison d’etre: Operation Kiddie Scare, come the big night. To ensure success, they practice: 1. Ghoulish faces. 2. Scary moves. 3. Chilling sounds. A knock at the door interrupts their final preparations, and “an adorable little bunny” asks to join in. “Monsters only” is the answer. She knocks again, this time with a lawyer in tow. And thus a spooky spoof easily takes on some tough stuff like inclusion, exclusion and stereotyping, too. Why can’t cute critters make the cut? Well, they can and do, for a friendly, more-the-merrier ending.
Sunny Side Up By Jennifer L. Holm; illustrated by Matthew Holm (Graphix/ Harper Collins; 218 pages; $23.99 (HB)/$12.99 (PB; ages 8-12)
Graphic novels are in, so it’s good news that the acclaimed creators of “Babymouse” and “Squish” are out with something new. Semiautobiographical, it has a sunny side and a serious one. The story unfolds in 1976 at an over-55 retirement community in Florida, where 10-year-old Sunny is staying with her grandfather for the summer. (No explanation given.) There, amid golf carts, early-bird specials and really old folks, she meets a kid obsessed with superheroes. Colorful comic book cells clearly follow their adventures while flashbacks fill in the backstory from Sunny’s Pennsylvania home. Turns out Sunny’s older brother is in trouble — drinking, drugs and anger management. And turns out that Sunny thinks it’s all her fault. Here then is a lively but unvarnished look at family dynamics where good intentions are not enough.
I Am Henry Finch By Alexis Deacon; illustrated by Viviane Schwarz (Candlewick; 40 pages; $16.99; ages 5-8)
“I think, therefore I am.” A finch comes to this Cartesian conclusion in this delightfully droll exploration of selfawareness and empathy. Throw in some evolution, too. (Is that a Galapagos finch?) Henry and his chattering flock are rendered in ink, watercolor and fingerprints on boldly designed pages. The plot emanates from a night of rare quiet when Henry discovers thought and ambition. “I could be great,” he then proclaims. His chance comes: A hungry beast threatens. (Perhaps a Galapagos iguana?) With rash bravery, Henry dives into its open mouth and ends up with a different perspective. He wonders: How does the beast feed its family? A healthy option emerges for finch and beast alike. (Think veggies.) Here’s a fun and philosophical picture book about autonomy, ethics and survival. It has the fingerprints of Descartes and Darwin all over it!
Swan: The Life and Dance of Anna Pavlova By Laurel Snyder; illustrated by Julie Morstad (Chronicle; 48 pages; $17.99; ages 6-8)
Beloved ballerina Anna Pavlova merits an elegant tribute. Done! Here’s a picture biography that elegantly captures the meaning of her extraordinary life — to share her art with all. Pencil drawings, washed with flat color, present her lithe and elongated figure, her grace and passion for dance. Born in 1881 to a laundress, she rises through the ranks of the rigorous Russian Imperial Ballet School. At 18, she assumes lead roles, the Dying Swan being her signature. On spacious pages full of movement and heart, lyrical prose suggests broad themes, further explained in a necessary author’s note — her humble beginnings, frail body, determination, generosity and untimely death at age 50. In her day, Pavlova traveled the world to bring ballet to new audiences, and today this inspiring entry point brings her to new, even aspiring fans.