Brainstorm 358: Cryptid Mythology Meets History & Science

For this week's Brainstorm we have some books that look at the truth behind cryptid tales, their origins, and what real creatures or fake news may be behind the fantastic stories. To see my full summaries/reviews of each title plus any content notes/trigger warnings, please scroll below. 

My Full Summaries/Reviews:

Catching Cryptids: The Scientific Search for Mysterious Creatures by Kim Long, ill. by Nicole Miles

This is one part survey of different cryptids from around the world and one part introduction to various tech and scientific methods useful in field research. Long introduces a variety of different cryptids, looks at what kind of animal it could be or could be mistaken for such a creature, whether anything similar has been found, what kind of scientific equipment and methods could be used to find evidence of the creature, and other similar cryptids around the globe.

This was a fascinating read. You learn how scientists find real rare animals, like using radar or environmental DNA or camera traps or a whole host of other things. I had heard about some of these methods, but some were brand new to me (like the environmental DNA…that was fascinating). The book realistically shows how you would go about developing a plan to find a rare creature. It highlights some past cryptids that have been discovered to be inspired by real creatures, like the giant squid inspiring kraken tales. There were a whole host of cryptids in here I had never heard of before. And I felt like it dealt with things very scientifically. For example, they say something like…‘We’ve got numerous reports of people saying they saw a creature with these attributes.” And then they research if any known animals match the description, and then scientifically describe how to narrow down the search field and what equipment would be most useful. The science nerd in me loved this. It was done in a very readable and engaging way, and is a fantastic read for any would-be scientists.

Notes on content: Language: None, Sexual content: None, Violence: Animals that are predators or have been said to attack others are mentioned, nothing graphic., Ethnic diversity: Cryptid examples come from all over the globe, LGBTQ+ content: None specified, Other: Beware of high science content (but done in a fun and engaging way)!

Loch Ness Uncovered: Media, Misinformation, and the Greatest Monster Hoax of All Time by Rebecca Siegel

Rebecca Siegel relates how prior to the 1900s, there were no rumors of a monster in Loch Ness. It wasn't until one woman claimed she saw something in 1933 that rumors started to fly. Siegel relates how the rumors built, how photos were stage, the role King Kong played in the building of the myth, how it helped a struggling economy, and the lengths people have gone to prove or disprove Nessie's existence. In conclusion, Siegel's gives readers pointers in recognizing fake news and not spreading modern day rumors.

This was a fascinating read. I had no idea there was no literature or record of tales of the Loch Ness monster until 1933. This was a fantastic bit of research, investigative reporting, engaging nonfiction writing, and making connections to modern day fake news and how to be savvy readers. Highly recommended.

Notes on content: Language: There might have been 1 minor swear in a quote, Sexual content: None, Violence: Deaths of people from old age or in wars is mentioned, Ethnic diversity: Scottish, South African, and more, LGBTQ+ content: I don't remember anyone mentioned, Other: Part of the story involves a staged hunt for the monster, staged footprints, and a staged photograph (the one on the cover). Debates as to motives people had for sharing tales of sightings.

What Do We Know about the Kraken? (What Do We Know About...?) by Ben Hubbard, ill. by Robert Squier

An examination of the earliest appearances of stories about sea monsters, most specifically the kraken. The book then explores what real creature might have sparked these stories, such as perhaps the giant squid and how our knowledge of the giant and colossal squids have grown in the past couple hundred years.

This was the best What Do We Know about... book I've read so far. I like how it examined the relationship between sea monster stories/myths and our lack of knowledge about what lives in the worlds' oceans, and how discoveries about giant squids and colossal squids seem to explain where many of the kraken stories may have come from. Hand this to curious readers, random fact sponges, and sea monster fans.

Notes on content: Language: None, Sexual content: None, Violence: Fictional stories of sea monster attacks wrecking ships and drowning sailors are mentioned. Whale/squid battles are recounted and the injuries they can leave on each other, Ethnic diversity: Kraken-like tales from around the globe are related. Scientists from Europe, Japan, and New Zealand are highlighted, LGBTQ+ content: None, Other: Inspections of dead squid are described and some illustrations are included.

Brainstorm 357: Animal Investigators

This week's Brainstorm features some animal investigators that are either the sleuths themselves or help a human in solving a mystery. To see my full summaries/reviews of each title plus any content notes/trigger warnings, please scroll below. 

My Full Summaries & Reviews

Dogsled to Dread (A Miss Mallard Mystery) by Robert M. Quackenbush

Miss Mallard has been invited as the guest starter for the annual sled dog race. But really, the people who invited her really want her to look into the Totem Avenger who is terrorizing the neighborhood. He steals a sled dog puppy in broad daylight right in front of several witnesses!

Another nice little mystery with Miss Mallard. Make sure you study the illustrations and see if you can spot the clues before Miss Mallard! I like that in this one you can figure it out before Miss Mallard if you do pay close attention.

Mimi Lee Gets a Clue (A Sassy Cat Mystery, #1) by Jennifer J. Chow

Mimi Lee has just opened her own pet grooming shop in the Hollywood area hoping to cater to the wealthier pet owners in L.A. But starting a new business and building a clientele is not easy. Her benefactor is doing her best to recommend friends, and through them Mimi starts to notice similar problems in puppies coming from one particular breeder. But the day after she reports him, he ends up dead and Mimi is the detective's prime suspect. She decides that to clear her name she needs to do some of her own sleuthing. And she has a most unusual partner. Her sister gave her a big fluffy white rescue cat she dubbed Marshmallow, and it turns out Marshmallow can talk. But only to Mimi. At first Mimi doesn't know what to do with her new feline that causes her to question her sanity, but it turns out when investigating a crime it can come in handy to have a partner who can speak to the animals. Can Mimi and Marshmallow figure out who really killed the breeder before Mimi goes down for the crime?

I was afraid that the talking cat elements would make this feel cheesy, but since Marshmallow only talks to Mimi (and telepathically at that) and since Chow wrote Marshmallow in a very convincing cat voice, this actually felt like a very realistic mystery. It is actually easy to forget there are any fantasy elements. Marshmallow is snarky and temperamental, and I can totally picture cats I've known talking just like him. Oh, and I loved his additions to the story. Don't get me wrong. Mimi is likable, and a fairly pleasant sleuth to follow around. I liked the elements of her Malaysian-American heritage that are woven into the story. Malaysian characters are few and far between in American lit, let alone in the mystery genre. Being in Thailand, I know several students and teachers who will absolutely love the fact that we'll soon have a Malaysian American character on the shelves, and will gobble up Mimi's Ma's phrases. The mystery definitely kept me guessing. The LA aspects were done very authentically (I lived in the area for a few years) and I loved the fact that she actually had Marshmallow and Mimi cold outside in a couple scenes! No one ever admits that LA can get chilly, but it totally does from Nov-Mar. The development of a little romance for Mimi with the lawyer was done cutely, and those elements felt like this was a blend of mystery and Hallmark movie. I'll definitely be looking to add more of the Sassy Cat Mysteries to our library very soon, and I want to check out more of Jennifer J. Chow's other books too. Hand this to cat lovers who like cozy mysteries and those who are looking for Malaysian American characters.

Notes on content: No language issues that I remember. No sexual content beyond a tiny kiss. A murder is mentioned but absolutely no gory details. Animal abuse/neglect is part of the story, but genetic defects and poor living conditions are the worst described and there's a happy ending for all the animals.

Owl's Outstanding Donuts by Robin Yardi

Alfred the owl notices some shady goings on with 2 people and a truck in the middle of the night outside the donut shop in Big Sur. He knows the stuff those people are dumping isn't good for the area, so he wakes up the girl who lives with the donut lady. Mattie is woken by an owl. Which is strange. But even more strange is the white truck and two suspicious people. The next day she tries to recruit her best friend, Sasha, and Sasha's little sister, Beanie, to help her figure out who is dumping gloop. Beanie is enthusiastic, but Sasha thinks Mattie is making up the owl stuff. The investigation gets more important when Mattie's aunt's donut shop is threatened, just as she's starting to feel at home in Big Sur after her mom's death. But solving the crime may require Mattie to address her biggest fears that have been building since her mom died.

This reads entirely like contemporary fiction except for the chapters from Alfred's perspective and then it drifts just ever so slightly into magical realism. It's a nice little mystery, with lots of donuts (it is wise to have donuts on hand for the reading of this...or to make sure there's no way you can get them, depending on your dietary needs). I really liked the Big Sur setting. It was so fun to follow the girls around their woodsy mountain area, traipsing through streams, and climbing trees. Along with the mystery there's a good dose of time devoted to character development. Mattie is still figuring out her relationships with her new full-time neighbors (who used to just be summer friends), and also dealing with unresolved mental issues after her mom's tragic death. If you like believable mysteries with an extra savvy owl, forest settings, lots of donuts, and plenty of time getting to know the characters, snatch this up.

Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. At one point violence is somewhat threatened, but everyone ends up ok. A past fatal car accident comes up, and fears that have resulted from that.

The Perfect Spot (Dot the Ladybug) by Kallie George, ill. by Stephanie Fizer Coleman

Dot the ladybug is an expert on dots and finding them, so her friend Jots wonders if she can also find spots. Dot trots off confidently in search of a spot, but does so before Jots can fully explain what he's looking for. Will Dot fail Jots?

This was a cute little adventure/mystery picture book for beginning readers with a great lesson about listening, and an easy teaching opportunity about synonyms (dots and spots) and homonyms (spot = dot, spot=location). The illustrations are very fun too. It isn't often you get such a well-developed plot in a leveled reader.

Brainstorm 356: 3 Overcomer Biographies

For this week's Brainstorm I have 3 fascinating biographies of people who overcame hardship. To see my full summaries/reviews of each title plus any content notes/trigger warnings, please scroll below. 

Full Summaries & Reviews

On the Corner of Chocolate Avenue: How Milton Hershey Brought Milk Chocolate to America by Tziporah Cohen, ill. by Steven Salerno

A picture book biography of Milton Hershey, how he went from poverty to prosperous businessman, persevered through many failures along the way in first the caramel and then milk chocolate businesses, and used his money to help children in poverty like he was.

I never knew that Hershey started out by making caramels and first made his name that way. His rise from poverty and his perseverance through numerous failures is inspiring, as is the way he used his money to start a school for kids in poverty that is still ongoing through his generous legacy. This is a heartwarming picture book biography and interesting background on a brand name sweet producer.

Saving My Assassin by Virginia Prodan

The autobiography of Romanian Virginia Prodan who grew up under Ceauşescu in a family that treated her like she wasn't a full member of the family. They would have her work while the rest of the kids had summer vacation, and she did chores while the others rested. Virginia was driven to find truth, and she thought the best way would be to become an attorney. She passes the law school entrance exams and makes it through law school to become a successful attorney. While practicing law Virginia meets some people with surprising joy and meets Christ through them. She then starts representing Christians in the Romanian courts arrested for possessing Bibles, churches who are denied permission to rebuild after the police vandalize them, and more. She successfully wins many cases by using laws about religious freedom that Ceauşescu's forces overlooked. This makes her a hero on the Voice of America reports and a target for the Securitate. They arrest her multiple times and when intimidation doesn't work, start sending assassin's after her. But it doesn't work out the way they planned.

This was a pretty astounding autobiography. Virginia Prodan has not had an easy life, but she has witnessed God work in some pretty amazing ways both through her and those around her. Her story is inspirational and I'm glad she shared it with the world. I'm not sharing too much here because I don't want to spoil it for other readers. Definitely worth the read.

Notes on content: Language: None; Sexual content: Nothing beyond some kisses.; Violence: Securitate beatings are mentioned and at least one is described. Deaths in jail are mentioned. A couple assassination attempts, but given the fact Virginia wrote this book you know they aren't successful.; Ethnic diversity: Most of the people are Romanian, but you also meet some people from the American Embassy who take an interest in Virginia.; LGBTQ+ content: None; Other: Unjust treatment by family and state leaders. Religious persecution. Virginia's husband is a gambler and it strains their marriage.

Whale Eyes: A Memoir About Seeing and Being Seen by James Robinson, ill. by Brian Rea

The autobiography of James Robinson, focusing on how growing up with anomalous retinal correspondence - a condition he’s dubbed “whale eyes” to make it easier to understand - impacted his childhood and youth and adulthood, especially his feelings about reading. He then explains how he decided to make a documentary about himself as a young adult to help others understand why he looks the way he does and the challenges he has in visual perception. And then how that opened the doors for future employment, more documentaries, and this book.

Back when I did tutoring I accidentally ended up working with several kids with visual acuity issues, one was similar to James’ issue, but not exactly the same. The fact that kids who perceive the world differently can teach themselves to adapt and survive in a world not catered to their conditions is astounding. I loved hearing how James’ documentary helped others feel seen, and his further documentaries are doing the same for people with other “invisible” issues. He’s doing important work, and this book is part of that. I hope reading this helps the younger generation be more understanding and empathetic. It’s a good reminder that you never know what is going on in someone’s life. It was also so interesting to hear how he’s trying to change the Hollywood use of people with misaligned eyes to not just portray those who are crazy or evil. I need to get a copy of this for our library.

Notes on content: Language: None; Sexual content: None; Violence: I don’t remember any.; Ethnic diversity: James’ family is white American.; LGBTQ+ content: None specified.; Other: Discrimination based on appearance. School unwilling to make accommodations (or does so sparingly). Misunderstanding someone with a disability.

Brainstorm 355: The Inklings in books

Do you know who the Inklings were? A group of Oxford professors and their friends who would get together to share their writings, critique each others' work, and just spend time together. The group's most famous members were C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. In the past year and a half I've read 4 fictional books that feature the Inklings as characters and a nonfiction highly illustrated biography/graphic novel about them. I thought I'd share those with you today. I was impressed by how all of these books honored the memory, works, faith, and legacy of the Inklings and their associates (Dorothy Sayers also features prominently in all the fiction books though she wasn't an official Inkling). My full summary and review of each book including any content notes/trigger warnings is down below for those who don’t have access to GoodReads.

Full Summaries, Reviews & Content Notes

The Ink of Elspet (The Inkwell Chronicles, #1) by J.D. Peabody

After a horrible railway accident, clergyman Marcus Drake’s belongings are carefully handed over to his son and daughter, Everett and Bea, by a nurse who tended him at the crash and promised to pass his things on to only them. The children have no idea that the contents of that briefcase are what caused the accident. Marcus was being chased by someone who wanted the Ink he carried very badly, and will stop at nothing to get their hands on it and find its source. Soon Everett and Bea find themselves on a wild adventure with members of the Inklings on a quest to find their father and free him from sinister hands and also protect the Well of Elspet, the last remaining source of the magical ink that inspires artists, musicians, and others around the world to create astounding things.

I like how Peabody grounded this story in post-WWII England and used the historic railway crash and historic figures to do that. I loved how Dot, Jack, and Ronald were the children’s guides and mentors on this quest. Weaving in real life Inklings or those tangential to the Inklings (Dorothy Sayers, C.S. Lewis, and J.R.R. Tolkien) to know about and be agents that work to protect this magical Ink that inspires them and other creatives was very fun. I also liked that Peabody didn’t spell out who each of those 3 were. He gave hints, and it allows adults reading with kids to introduce them to these real people, or if kids go searching for the Inklings and use those nicknames they can figure out the inspiration for these characters themselves. It could provide a good opportunity to discuss with reader why Peabody chose these 3 people to include in his story. That said, it is also clearly a fantasy adventure story and not true history (though I think Dot, Jack, and Ronald would all be honored to be included in this one). I liked the growth that Everett and Bea experience through their adventure. I like the imagination of the world Peabody has built. His characters are also memorable, from the good guys to the bad guys headed by the Commander who wants to destroy all Ink. The story takes the characters from London, England to Aberdeen, Scotland and they meet several allies along the way like the noble Conductor and Gilroy who accompany them when the Inklings have to take an alternate route. Peabody has another boy join the adventure along the way, Trey, who has amnesia but does know about the Ink somehow and wants to help and see if he can figure out where he’s supposed to be along the way. His inclusion helps Everett realize some important things about himself and prompts some much-needed growth. The author is a Christian and he wove in Christian principles into the story without necessarily making anything an allegory and avoiding being preachy. It’s a wholesome and heartfelt fantasy adventure that is also exciting and imaginative. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series and the future adventures of Bea and Everett.

Notes on content:

Language: None; Sexual content: None; Violence: There are deaths in the train wreck, but nothing is vividly described. The bad guy keeps Marcus a prisoner and drugs him to try and get information out of him. The bad guy’s pet crow pecks Marcus until he bleeds at times. One person is bit by a dog pretty badly. Trey is in bad shape when they find him, but the ink can heal in the right hands.; Ethnic diversity: The Drake family, Dot, Jack, and Ronald are all white British, Trey is half Scottish, half Indian.; LGBTQ+ content: None specified.; Other: The Commander mean guy is pretty mean to even his allies, turning some into puppies if they disobey him, abandoning others if they fall behind.

The Inklings Detective Agency by John R. Kelly

In December of 1936 the Inklings members are called upon by a most unexpected visitor asking them to look into some deaths under mysterious circumstances of members of a secret society. It appears the deaths were ruled accidents or natural causes but the fact that the deaths both occurred on the day of a full moon one month apart and that both men are part of the same secret society that dabbles in occult matters have other members worried someone is out to get them and one of them could be dead on the next full moon in a few weeks. Jack Lewis, his brother Warren, John Tolkien, Lord Cecil along with some of the other regular members agree to look into the matter, and conscript a few other friends and contacts, like Charles Williams for his knowledge on secret societies, Agatha Christie for her knowledge of poisons, and Dorothy Sayers for her keen mind. But can they figure out who is behind these deaths before the next full moon?

The author clarifies that this is completely an imagined scenario, but he teaches university level classes on the Inklings and clearly knows the time period and the people involved well enough to imagine a plausible mystery for them to solve and include lots of solid historical bits about their real lives as well. This is the 4th fictional book I've read this year that has the Inklings included as characters (the other 3 were a middle grade series for kids called The Inkwell Chronicles), and I like how such fiction introduces readers to these writers and thinkers of the last century. This one had me worried about how dark it would get involving a secret society messing around with the occult, but it doesn't get super dark. And Sayers would be happy to tell you it upholds all the rules of mystery writing as outlined by the Detection Club.

Notes on content:

Language: None; Sexual content: None; Violence: A past murder is revealed that was a bit bloody but mostly off page, and the two present ones which are mostly poisonings. Things get super dicey for several others when the murderer catches on to what they know and someone gets a concussion and is a little bloody, others are in danger of poisoning and one does succumb but most are ok. Some other murder and mystery investigations are mentioned.; Ethnic diversity: British, Irish, Scottish; LGBTQ+ content: None specified.; Other: The secret society leader is akin to a cult leader and very manipulative of people. Minimal details about what a secret society dabbling in the occult would get in to.

The Mythmakers: the Remarkable Fellowship of C.S. Lewis & J.R.R. Tolkien by John Hendrix

A graphic novel/heavily illustrated text biography of authors C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, their lives, their friendship, how they impacted each other's work, their passion for myth, and how they changed the perception of fantasy fiction in culture.

I've read a couple books on both Lewis and Tolkien individually and the Inklings as a group. This was by far my favorite of any of them. I like how Hendrix balanced being concise, providing the right amount of depth, conveying Lewis and Tolkien's points of view, and also showing the impact of the works of these men. I've read too many others that ignore their faith and how that impacted their works or seemingly purposefully misunderstood their intentions and goals in writing. As a fellow Christian, Hendrix honors their faith, gets their intentions and does a good job interpreting those for a modern audience (because sometimes the issue is a misunderstanding of the word choice of their personal correspondence/writings, failing to understand the past meaning of those words in their context and misconstruing the meanings with more modern meanings). And let's not forget, Hendrix illustrated the entire book. There are sections in graphic novel format, with our narrators, a wizard and a lion (and a raccoon and thistle in the appendixes), who help set the stage, explain related topics in the appendixes, and transition readers from one part to the next. These sections have speech bubbles and an obvious graphic novel format. Then the biographical parts of the book are in more traditional text blocks, but have illustrations all around them. It's an impressive piece of artwork and authorship. And as a Tolkien and Lewis fan, I really appreciated how masterfully it was all done.

Notes on content:

Language: None; Sexual content: Some kisses between husbands and wives are mentioned.; Violence: Experiences of both men in WWI are explored. Deaths and injuries are mentioned, there are some illustrations but they are not gory, just sobering. Both men lost parents when they were children. Deaths of friends and family from disease and old age are mentioned.; Ethnic diversity: Tolkien was white British born in Africa, Lewis was white Irish. Most of their friends were white British. Lewis eventually married a white American woman.; LGBTQ+ content: None; Other: Tolkien's perfectionism is talked about and Lewis' tendency to jump into things. Christian faith is a key topic of the book. Hendrix carefully parses what Lewis and Tolkien meant by myth, at first it may appear offensive to include certain things as myths, but once the full meaning comes to light, it isn't.

Brainstorm 354: Chernobyl stories

This past week marked 40 years since the Chernobyl disaster. I thought it would be an opportune time to share some stories that bring to life what the people living in the area experienced. My full summary and review of each book including any content notes/trigger warnings is down below for those who don’t have access to GoodReads.

Full Summaries/Reviews

Anya Flees the Fallout: a Chernobyl Survival Story (Girls Survive) by Erin Falligant, ill. by Soia Di Chiara Manetti

Anya’s family has a comfortable life in Pripayat where her father works as a firefighter. They are looking forward to the May Day festivities coming up. But when a fire starts at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, Anya’s father is called to put out the flames, and no one realizes just how dangerous or serious things are about to get. Soon Anya and her mother and brother are evacuating, leaving behind their stubborn grandfather Dido who refuses to leave his farm and their dog, Bear, who isn’t allowed to evacuate with them. Their father has been sent to Moscow for treatment because of radiation burns. Will they ever be together again or able to return to their home?

This book really brings to life how sudden the evacuation came on the average person in Pripayat and how the repression of information by the Soviet government made it so that people really didn’t understand how much danger they were in. The book has Anya and her mom and brother go to stay with an uncle who is a nuclear scientist and he has insider knowledge of what kind of danger they are in and how to treat their clothing and such to be safer. Anya’s brother so staunchly believes in the government that he refuses to listen to some of the things his uncle tells him. It was a clever way for the author to educate readers on the dangers that the average person wouldn’t have known about and why some would have refused to believe the truth even if they were told. The book ends just a few weeks after the event, so we don’t get to see the long-term effects on residents of Pripayat, but the back of the book touches on them.

Notes on content: Language: None. Sexual content: None. Violence: One of the other firefighters dies off page of radiation poisoning. Ethnic diversity: The characters are all Russian/Ukrainian. LGBTQ+ content: None specified. Other: Anya’s brother is pretty brainwashed by Soviet teaching. Anya’s forced to abandon her pet dog and it is mentioned that soldiers may kill some of the pets left in Pripayat. Anya’s family has to abandon their home without knowing they can never go back.

The Blackbird Girls by Anne Blankman

n 1986, Valentina and Oksana barely stand each other at school. Oksana's father has warned her that Valentina is a cheat and a liar like all Jews so she should steer clear. Valentina tries to avoid Oksana's snide comments about her heritage. Both girls' fathers work in the nuclear reactor, and neither came home that morning after the test last night. There's also weird blue smoke filling the sky and a red haze from fires. But everyone knows that nuclear power is perfectly safe and an emergency there is practically impossible. At least, that's what they've been told. As the day goes on, people are increasingly concerned and eventually both girls find out something has gone badly wrong. Soon they find themselves on the run from the radiation, desperate for a place to stay, and forced to go together to stay with Valentina's grandmother. A grandmother she's never met because her mother says she's dangerous.

In 1941, the Germans are closing in on Kiev, and Rifka finds herself on the run, trying to find a safe place in a world that is decidedly unfriendly to Jews. Where's a girl to go when she's separated from her family and the world is at war?

Valentina, Oksana, and Rifka all have things to learn about trust, their personal worth, and seeing people for who they truly are as they look for a home.

This was a fascinating read for the historical tidbits on what it was like for those living in the town around Chernobyl in 1986. The author shares in the back that she has a friend who lived through the experience and her story inspired this story. I loved watching Valentina and Oksana grow under Babulya's care. Oksana's story, especially, was very touching. She blossoms as she learns she is treasured and talented and valued was really touching (she comes from a physically and emotionally abusive home). (There's an important note in the back of the book about abuse and where readers can get help if they experience things similar to Oksana.) It was also heartwarming to hear Babulya share with Valentina why she clings to her Jewish faith, despite it being illegal in the USSR. The way the different time periods had similar themes and eventually come together was done very well. Overall, this is a powerful story of hope in the midst of bleak times, and the way kindness and love can bring down walls and heal hearts.

Notes on content: Language: No swearing, but there is some verbal name calling by parental figures to children (this is portrayed as being very bad). Also Jews verbally attacked. Sexual content: None. Violence: Deaths from radiation poisoning are mentioned. Deaths in WWII are mentioned. Some beating and burning of a child by parental figures is somewhat described (again, this is portrayed as very bad and there is a good note in the back of the book about how this is wrong and where to get help). Ethnic diversity: Jewish and Gentile Ukranians/Russians. LGBTQ+ content: None specified. Other: Alcohol consumption of adults mentioned, usually resulting in worse tempers.

Escape from Chernobyl by Andy Marino

Yuri is an intern at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. He was super excited about the position. He left his home to come live with his Aunt & Uncle and cousins Alina and Lev, but when he arrived he found that it really just means he's a janitor. His uncle is a well known radio announcer who spouts the Party stuff on the radio but lets his children listen to Western radio stations at home and isn't afraid to criticize the powers that be within his own walls. That really rubs Yuri the wrong way, but his Uncle says he'll learn. The one bright spot of his time in Pripyat has been meeting Sofiya, a friend of Alina's whose father also works at the plant. All of their lives will be forever changed on April 26, 1986 when something goes very wrong at the plant.

Marino obviously did his research. He weaves stories of all these various characters so that each of them know different truths about the disaster and how much the government is keeping from the general public and what should be done. You really get to learn what happened in and around the plant in the hours after the disaster from all these various perspectives. Most of the characters Marino made up, while a few are real. It was interesting to have characters on a spectrum of dedication to the government to see how fast each is able to accept the truth of the depth of the emergency and just how brainwashed some Soviets were at this time. There is also a character with severe anxiety who uses music and repetition to try and cope. It was an interesting choice to include such a character in a tense situation, but also makes readers aware that anxiety issues aren't new, that people in the past in these horrible circumstances also often had to deal with ongoing emotional health issues too. This isn't a very easy read, as you know many of the characters aren't going to make it, but there is hope in that some do. Due to the nature of the story and the fact that the main characters range from 12 to 16 this feels like a borderline middle grade/YA book good for those segueing from one to the other. Recommended to disaster story fans, Russian setting fans, and historical fiction fans.

Notes on content: Language: About 2 minor swears as I remember. Sexual content: None. Violence: Radiation poisoning is accurately described and all that happens along with that. Some are severely injured in the explosion and there's some description of a couple of those injuries. There's one shooting that results in an injury. Others are threatened with death or know they are likely not to survive after the levels of radiation exposure they are getting. Ethnic diversity: All characters are Russian LGBTQ+ content: None specified. Other: Sudden upheaval from homes. Yuri is wrestling with the Party lines he's been fed all his life, and the truths his uncle shares with him. One character deals with anxiety/mental health issues.