Thursday, April 25, 2019

Brainstorm 176: International Reads Pt. 5: Europe & Eurasia 1/2

Welcome to another installment in our series on books set in countries and cultures around the world. We're headed to Europe & Eurasia this week. In case you haven't looked at a map of Europe recently...there's a lot of countries jammed into that space! And authors seem to like to write about people in European settings (or at least those settings in history...contemporary fiction in English set in Europe proves more elusive). I set out to have all of these European/Eurasian books ready for today's blog, but I'm only halfway through, and it is getting later in the day so this will just have to be a two parter sub series within the International Reads series. Look for more Europe/Eurasia books next week. To see the full parameters I've set for the selection of books in this International Reads series, please visit International Reads Pt 1: Africa. And of course, that’s the place to visit for some books set in African countries too. If you’re looking for some books set in Asian countries, check out International Reads Pt 2: Asia. If you're looking for books set in the lands "down under" or the islands of the Pacific check out International Reads Pt 3: Australia, New Zealand, & Oceania. And if you're looking for books set in Central American countries check out International Reads Pt 4: Central America & the Caribbean. I'm not including summaries or reviews today in the interest of space. Clicking on the title of the books will take you to either my review of the book or a general summary and other reviews.

AUSTRIA


Haydn’s Farewell Symphony by Anna Harwell Celenza, ill. by JoAnn E. Kitchel
Genre: Lower Grade Nonfiction, Music History, Picture Book

Leviathan by Westerfeld
Genre: Steampunk, Reimagined History, War Stories, Young Adult
*Note: Some parts take place in England and other places in Europe as characters travel.

Lily Renée, Escape Artist: from Holocaust Survivor to Comic Book Pioneer by Trina Robbins, ill. by Anne Timmons & Moh Oh, et al.
Genre: Biography, Middle Grade Nonfiction, History, Art, Graphic Novel

Moonlight on the Magic Flute (Magic Tree House, #41) by Mary Pope Osborne, ill. by Salvatore Murdocca
Genre: Time Travel, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Lower Grade/Middle Grade Fiction

The Perfect Horse: the Daring U.S. Mission to Rescue the Priceless Stallions Kidnapped by the Nazis by Elizabeth Letts
Genre: WWII Stories, Animal Stories, History, Adult Nonfiction
*Note: Some parts take place in Poland, Germany, and Czechoslovakia

BELGIUM


TinTin: the Art of Hergé by Michael Daubert, translated by Michael Farr
Genre: Art, Comics History, Adult Nonfiction

CZECH REPUBLIC


Fireflies in the Dark: the Story of Friedl Dicker-Brandeis and the Children of Terezin by Susan Goldman Rubin
Genre: Picture Book Biography, Art, History, WWII Stories, Lower Grade/Middle Grade Nonfiction

The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain by Peter Sís
Genre: Picture Book Autobiography, Art, History, Middle Grade Nonfiction

DENMARK


The Boys Who Challenged Hitler: Knud Pedersen and the Churchill Club by Phillip Hoose
Genre: Biography, WWII Stories, History, Young Adult Nonfiction

Energy Island: How One Community Harnessed the Wind and Changed Their World by Allan Drummond
Genre: Science, Lower Grade Nonfiction, Picture Book

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
Genre: WWII Stories, Historical Fiction, Middle Grade Fiction

FRANCE


All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
Genre: Historical Fiction, WWII Stories, Adult Fiction
*Note: Some parts take place in Germany.

The Inquisitor’s Tale: Or, the Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog by Adam Gidwitz, ill. by Hatem Aly
Genre: Historical Fiction, Supernatural/Fantasy Fiction, Middle Grade/Young Adult Fiction

The Lost Castle (The Lost Castle, #1) by Kristy Cambron
Genre: Historical Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, War Stories, Romance, Religious Fiction, Adult Fiction
*Note: A little bit happens in the USA.

Madeline (Madeline, #1) by Ludwig Bemelmans
Genre: Historical Fiction, Picture Book, Lower Grade Fiction

Manfish: a Story of Jacques Cousteau by Jennifer Berne, ill. by Éric Puybaret
Genre: Science, History, Picture Book Biography, Lower Grade Nonfiction

The Story of Diva and Flea by Mo Willems, ill. by Tony DiTerlizzi
Genre: Animal Stories, Lower Grade Fiction

GERMANY


Becoming Bach by Tom Leonard
Genre: Music, History, Picture Book Biography, Lower Grade Nonfiction

Cloud and Wallfish by Anne Nesbet
Genre: Historical Fiction, Spy Stories, Thriller, Middle Grade Fiction

The Collapse: the Accidental Opening of the Berlin Wall by Mary Elise Sarotte
Genre: History, Adult Nonfiction

The Faithful Spy: Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Plot to Kill Hitler by John Hendrix
Genre: Biography, History, Religious Nonfiction, WWII Stories, Graphic Novel, Young Adult Nonfiction

Wall by Tom Clohosy Cole
Genre: Historical Fiction, Lower Grade Fiction, Picture Book

Who Were the Brothers Grimm? (Who Was…?) by Avery Reed, ill. by John O’Brien
Genre: Biography, Literary History, Middle Grade Nonfiction

GREECE


The Dress and the Girl by Camille Andros, ill. by Julie Morstad
Genre: Historical Fiction, Lower Grade Fiction, Picture Book

The Griffin and the Dinosaur: How Adrienne Mayor Discovered a Fascinating Link between Myth and Science by Marc Aronson & Adrienne Mayor, ill. by Chris Muller
Genre: Biography, History, Literature, Art, Science, Middle Grade/Young Adult Nonfiction

The Mystery of the Secret Society (Greetings from Somewhere, #10) by Harper Paris, ill. by Marcos Calo
Genre: Mystery Fiction, Lower Grade Fiction

Natural Born Heroes: the Lost Secrets of Strength and Endurance by Christopher McDougall
Genre: History, Sports, Science, Adult Nonfiction

Where Is the Parthenon? (Where is…?) by Roberta Edwards, ill. by John Hinderlitter
Genre: Architecture, History, Religious History, Middle Grade Nonfiction

HUNGARY


The Good Master (Kate & Jancsi, #1) by Kate Seredy
Genre: Historical Fiction, Adventure, Middle Grade Fiction

Hedy’s Journey: the True Story of a Hungarian Girl Fleeing the Holocaust by Michelle Bisson, ill. by El Primo Ramon
Genre: Picture Book Biography, Lower Grade Nonfiction

Marika by Andrea Cheng
Genre: Historical Fiction, WWII Stories, Middle Grade Fiction

ICELAND


Life on Surtsey: Iceland’s Upstart Island (Scientists in the Field) by Loree Griffin Burns
Genre: Science, Middle Grade/Young Adult Nonfiction

Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne
Genre: Science Fiction, Adventure, Adult Nonfiction

Thea Stilton and the Frozen Fiasco (Thea Stilton, #25) by Thea Stilton
Genre: Mystery Fiction, Animal Stories, Lower Grade/Middle Grade Fiction

ITALY


Bloom: a Story of Fashion Designer Elsa Schiaparelli by Kyo Maclear, ill. by Julie Morstad
Genre: Fashion, Lower Grade Nonfiction, Picture Book Biography

Living in…Italy (Living in...) by Chloe Perkins, ill. by Tom Woolley
Genre: Social Studies, Lower Grade Nonfiction, Picture Book, Leveled Reader

Naples! (Recipe for Adventure, #1) by Giada de Laurentiis, ill. by Francesca Gambatesa
Genre: Fantasy Fiction, Foodie, Lower Grade Fiction

Saving Italy: the Race to Rescue a Nation’s Treasures from the Nazis by Robert M. Edsel
Genre: Art, History, WWII Stories, Adult Nonfiction

The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke, translated by Oliver Latsch
Genre: Adventure, Mystery Fiction, Middle Grade Fiction

Waterfall (River of Time, #1) by Lisa T. Bergren
Genre: Time Travel, Thriller, Adventure, Romance, Young Adult Fiction

LITHUANIA


Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
Genre: Survival Stories, Thriller, Historical Fiction, Young Adult Fiction
*Note: Parts in Russia.

A Special Fate: Chiune Sugihara: Hero of the Holocaust by Alison Leslie Gold
Genre: Biography, WWII Stories, Middle Grade Nonfiction

NETHERLANDS


Boxes for Katje by Candace Fleming, ill. by Stacey Dressen-McQueen
Genre: Historical Fiction, Lower Grade Fiction, Picture Book

The Girl in the Blue Coat by Monica Hesse
Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, WWII Stories, Young Adult Fiction

The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom, with John & Elizabeth Sherrill
Genre: Autobiography, History, WWII Stories, Religious Nonfiction, Adult Nonfiction

Pedal Power: How One Community Became the Bicycle Capital of the World by Allan Drummond
Genre: Social Studies, Science, Lower Grade Nonfiction, Picture Book

The Tree in the Courtyard: Looking through Anne Frank’s Window by Jeff Gottesfeld, ill. by Peter McCarty
Genre: History, Lower Grade Nonfiction, WWII Stories, Picture Book Biography

The Wheel on the School by Meindert DeJong, ill. by Maurice Sendak
Genre: Historical Fiction, Animal Stories, Middle Grade Fiction

NORWAY


The Rescue Artist: the True Story of Art Thieves, and the Hunt for a Missing Masterpiece by Edward Dolnick
Genre: True Crime, Art, Adult Nonfiction
*Note: Parts elsewhere in Europe

POLAND


The Boy on the Wooden Box by Leon Leyson
Genre: Autobiography, WWII Stories, History, Middle Grade/Young Adult Nonfiction

The Fish in the Bathtub by Eoin Colfer, ill. by Peter Bailey
Genre: Historical Fiction, Holiday Stories, Lower Grade Fiction

Irena’s Children: a True Story of Courage by Tilar J. Mazzeo, adapted for young readers by Mary Cronk Farrell
Genre: Biography, WWII Stories, History, Middle Grade Nonfiction

Resistance by Jennifer A. Nielsen
Genre: Historical Fiction, Thriller, WWII Stories, Young Adult Fiction

PORTUGAL


The Arm of the Starfish (Polly O’Keefe, #1; Kairos, #5) by Madeleine L’Engle
Genre: Adventure, Young Adult Fiction

Who Was Ferdinand Magellan? (Who Was…?) by Sydelle Kramer, ill. by Elizabeth Wolf
Genre: Biography, History, Middle Grade Nonfiction

ROMANIA


Night (Night Trilogy, #1) by Elie Wiesel, translated by Marion Wiesel
Genre: Memoir, WWII Stories, History, Adult Nonfiction

RUSSIA


Breaking Stalin’s Nose by Eugene Yelchin
Genre: Historical Fiction, Middle Grade Fiction

Caught in the Revolution: Petrograd, Russia, 1917 – a World on Edge by Helen Rappaport
Genre: History, War Stories, Adult Nonfiction

The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia by Candace Fleming
Genre: Biography, History, War Stories, Young Adult Nonfiction

Living in…Russia (Living in...) by Jesse Burton, ill. by Tom Woolley
Genre: Lower Grade Nonfiction, Picture Book, Leveled Reader

The Noisy Paint Box: the Colors and Sounds of Kandinsky’s Abstract Art by Barb Rosenstock, ill. by Mary GrandPré
Genre: Art, History, Lower Grade Nonfiction, Picture Book Biography

Swan: the Life and Dance of Anna Pavlova by Laurel Snyder, ill. by Julie Morstad
Genre: Dance, History, Lower Grade Nonfiction, Picture Book Biography

Thursday, April 11, 2019

Brainstorm 175: Newish Christian Nonfiction for Holy Week

Since this Sunday is Palm Sunday and the Christians of the world will start celebrating Holy Week, I thought it would be a good time to share some Christian nonfiction books that have come out in the past couple of years. Yes, that means I’m taking another break from the International Reads series. Next week I’ll be taking a break since we’re off school, but the week after that we’ll resume the International Reads series with European books. Since the target audience of these books is obviously Christian families and individuals, or those interested in the Bible, I'll just include a few review thoughts with my summaries. Click on the titles to see my full reviews for any of these books.

Picture Books (Books for Lower Grade and Younger Readers)


The Biggest Story ABC by Kevin DeYoung, ill. by Don Clark
DeYoung walks readers through God's plan for humanity and salvation as outlined in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation by using one sentence phrases that highlight and explain one term that starts (or incorporates for X) the letter of the alphabet. This is an exemplary work of summarizing the message of the Bible succinctly and doing it chronologically AND alphabetically. There are people who have written entire multi-volume doorstoppers to say what DeYoung says in just 26 sentences. The artwork will suck in the little readers. If you want more, this is an adaptation of a longer picture book that is pretty ageless in its audience.


The Garden, the Curtain, and the Cross (Tales That Tell the Truth) by Carl Laferton, ill. by Catalina Echeverri
This book gives an overview of basic points of the Bible to point out to kids how sin entered the world, how it separates people from God, and how Jesus' death and resurrection provides a way for that separation from God to be fixed. This is another very succinct but kid-friendly way to explain how Bible stories relate, what sin is, and why Jesus died on the cross for sins. The illustrations are great too, very fun and attractive and incorporates a historical feel accurate for the time periods.


An Extraordinary Teacher: a Bible Story about Priscilla (Called and Courageous Girls) by Rachel Spier Weaver & Anna Haggard, ill. by Eric Elwell
An extrapolated biography of Priscilla from the New Testament based on the information about her in the Bible. The Bible doesn't give a detailed biography of Priscilla but the authors stayed true to everything we do know for sure and filled in some of the gaps with their own imaginations. I thought they did a good job of not adding too much but helping to make a story that flows. This focuses specifically on how God gave Priscilla a gift to teach and that she used it for God's glory.


Miracle Man: the Story of Jesus by John Hendrix
Think of this book kinda like an illustrated summary of the heart of the gospels, the life of Jesus and purpose of his time on Earth all condensed into 38 pages. It is composed of both illustrations and words in graphic design. (Click the title for more details, because I just don’t have room here.)


Paul Writes (a Letter) by Chris Raschka
Raschka introduces Paul and depicts him writing his various letters that appear in the Bible. Raschka picks a few verses from each and rephrases them in his own words. (Again, click the title for more details. Too much to say, not enough space.)


Who Is My Neighbor? by Amy-Jill Levine & Sandy Eisenberg Sasso, ill. by Denise Turu
Yes, I know. This could totally be shelved in the fiction section of a library. But it is also a retelling of the parable of the Good Samaritan featuring a land where Yellows mix only with Yellows and Blues mix only with Blues, but when a Blue is hurt when he falls off his bike who will help him? A guide for parents and educators with further notes on the original parable and discussion questions is provided in the back of the book. Every child, no matter where they live or go to school has to deal with “them” and “us” and this book provides a very easy way to talk about that and how to be more loving to all others. (These authors have retellings of the Parable of the Lost Sheep and the Parable of the Mustard Seed I also recommend.)

Middle Grade Books


How Sweet the Sound: the Story of Amazing Grace by Carole Boston Weatherford; ill. by Frank Morrison
Told in just a few lines of rhyme per page, the powerful story of John Newton's life from child to adult through many turbulent experiences and a drastic life change when he turned from rough sea captain of a slave ship to eventually a Christian preacher who spoke out against the slave trade and penned the original lines of "Amazing Grace." The illustrations in this are stunning and help convey the turbulent times of Newton's life and then his change. Definitely read the back notes! Though this is a picture book biography, based on the vocabulary used and the stories included, this is more aimed at upper elementary and middle school readers.


A Kid’s Guide to the Names of God (A Kid’s Guide…) by Tony Evans
Tony Evans introduces kids to the various names of God that appear in the Bible, such as Elohim, Jehovah Jireh, Immanuel, etc.. Ten names are focused on and get one chapter each with interactive questions and suggested application activities along the way. I was impressed by the depth of this book. It not only educates, it shows applications and disciples along the way, and does it all in language kids can grasp.


Love Does for Kids by Bob Goff & Lindsey Goff Viducich, ill. by Michael Lauritano
Bob Goff, with the help of his daughter Lindsay, shares with kids stories from his own life that demonstrate principles of a healthy walk with God and how to practically love others. Each of the stories is about 4-6 pages in length and illustrated. Kids should enjoy the stories, as Bob has a good mixture of amazing stories and very relatable stories. But they each share a different point that kids can easily grasp and immediately put into practice to strengthen their walk with God and with others.

Young Adult Book


The Faithful Spy: Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Plot to Kill Hitler by John Hendrix
A highly illustrated/graphic novel biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer a German pastor who decided he needed to do something to stop Hitler and joined a group plotting to kill him. Hendrix not only illustrated every single page of this 175 page book, he also did a fantastic job of summarizing the main points of Bonhoeffer's life, beliefs, convictions, and part in WWII. Hendrix also does a splendid job of setting the stage and explaining the rise of Hitler to power in Germany, the complicated atmosphere of Germany at that time, and how WWII in Europe started.

Adult Books


The Case for Miracles: a Journalist Investigates Evidence for the Supernatural by Lee Strobel
Lee Strobel starts off his investigation into whether or not miracles happen, and whether or not it is reasonable to even believe they happen, by addressing the case against the miraculous with an interview of the editor of Skeptic magazine, Dr. Michael Shermer. Strobel then goes on to explore the opposing view, that miracles do happen, with interviews of other experts from a variety of faiths, including scientists, theologians, missionaries, and detectives. Along the way Strobel seeks to establish how a miracle can be well-documented, why some people - even Christians - are reluctant to believe in the supernatural, and what to do with miracles that don’t happen despite many prayers. There are other books on miracles out there, but I feel like this is the most honest, respectful, well-researched, and yet easily readable text on the topic.


Everybody Always: Becoming Love in a World Full of Setbacks and Difficult People by Bob Goff
Bob Goff shares illustrations from his own life of how God is challenging him to love everyone around him, not just the people who are easy to love. He shares stories that range from touching to wild, everyday events to once in several centuries experiences. Bob Goff's stories are so readable, he makes it feel like you're just chatting over coffee or something and he's sharing what God taught him through a relationship with someone the other day.





Thursday, April 4, 2019

Brainstorm 174: International Reads Pt. 4: Central American & the Caribbean

After a week off, we're continuing our look at books set in countries and cultures around the world. This week the focus is Central American and the Caribbean. To see the full parameters I've set for the selection of books in this International Reads series, please visit International Reads Pt 1: Africa. And of course, that’s the place to visit for some books set in African countries too. If you’re looking for some books set in Asian countries, check out International Reads Pt 2: Asia. And if you're looking for books set in the lands "down under" or the islands of the Pacific check out International Reads Pt 3: Australia, New Zealand, & Oceania. I'm not including summaries or reviews today in the interest of space. Clicking on the title of the books will take you to either my review of the book or a general summary and other reviews.


ANTIGUA & BARBUDA


Psalm 23 ill. by Barry Moser
Genre: Religious, Juvenile Nonfiction, Picture Book

BAHAMAS


SilverFin (Young Bond, #1) by Charlie Higson
Genre: Thriller, Spy Stories, Young Adult Fiction

Thea Stilton and the Tropical Treasure (Thea Stilton, #22) by Thea Stilton
Genre: Adventure Stories, Mystery, Animal Stories, Lower Grade/Middle Grade Fiction

Specific Culture: Arawak


Morning Girl by Michael Dorris
Genre: Historical Fiction, Middle Grade Fiction

BARBADOS


Treasures of the Caribbean series by Jim & Terri Kraus
Genre: Romance, Historical Fiction, Adventure Stories, Religious Fiction, Adult Fiction

COSTA RICA


Hide and Seek (Silver Jaguar Society Mysteries, #2) by Kate Messner
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Adventure Stories, Middle Grade Fiction

CUBA


All the Way to Havana by Margarita Engle, ill. by Mike Curato
Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Picture Book

The Lightning Dreamer: Cuba’s Greatest Abolitionist by Margarita Engle
Genre: Biographical Fiction, Historical Fiction, Novels in Verse, Young Adult Fiction

The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba’s Struggle for Freedom by Margarita Engle
Genre: Biographical Fiction, Historical Fiction, Novels in Verse, Bilingual Books, Middle Grade/Young Adult Fiction

Who Was Fidel Castro? (Who Was/Is…?) by Sarah Fabiny, ill. by Ted Hammond
Genre: Biography, Middle Grade Nonfiction

*Note: Margarita Engle has several other books set in Cuba. I couldn't include them all here.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC


Islandborn by Junot Díaz, ill. by Leo Espinosa
Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Picture Book

HAITI


The Banza: a Haitian Story by Diane Wolkstein, ill. by Marc Brown
Genre: Folklore, Animal Stories, Picture Books

Circles of Hope by Karen Lynn Williams, ill. by Linda Saport
Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Picture Book

Eight Days: a Story of Haiti by Edwidge Danticat, ill. by Alix Delinois
Genre: Disaster Stories, Survival Stories, Contemporary Fiction, Picture Books

HONDURAS


Hurricane: a novel by Terry Trueman
Genre: Disaster Stories, Survival Stories, Middle Grade Fiction

*See Mosquita for another book set partly in Honduras.

JAMAICA


Faster Than Lightning: My Biography by Usain Bolt
Genre: Autobiography, Sports, Adult Nonfiction

Run with Me: the Story of a U.S. Olympic Champion by Sanya Richards-Ross
Genre: Autobiography, Sports, Religious, Young Adult Nonfiction

Who Was Bob Marley? (Who Was/Is…?) by Katie Ellison, ill. by Gregory Copeland
Genre: Biography, Music, Middle Grade Nonfiction

MOSQUITA (Parts of Nicaragua & Honduras)


Lost City of the Monkey God by Douglas Preston
Genre: Travel Stories, Adventure, Thriller, Survival, Mystery, Science, History, Adult Nonfiction

PANAMA


The Little Painter of Sabana Grande by Patricia Maloney Markun, ill. by Robert Casilla
Genre: Historical Fiction, Art Stories, Picture Book

What Is the Panama Canal? (What Is/Was…?) by Janet B. Pascal, ill. by Tim Foley
Genre: History, Engineering, Middle Grade Nonfiction

PUERTO RICO


Parrots over Puerto Rico by Susan L. Roth and Cindy Trumbore, ill. by Susan L. Roth
Genre: Animal Stories, Science, History, Lower Grade/Middle Grade Nonfiction, Picture Book

Who Was Roberto Clemente? (Who Was/Is…?) by James Buckley, Jr., ill. by Ted Hammond
Genre: Biography, Sports, Middle Grade Nonfiction

ST. KITTS & NEVIS


Sea Turtle Scientist (Scientists in the Field) by Stephen R. Swinburne
Genre: Animal Stories, Science, Middle Grade/Young Adult Nonfiction

ST. LUCIA


The Field by Baptiste Paul, ill. by Jacqueline Alcántara
Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Sports, Picture Book

VIRGIN ISLANDS

Specific Island: St. Croix


Alexander Hamilton: Little Lion (Treasure Chest, #2) by Ann Hood
Genre: Time Travel, Historical Fiction, Biographical Fiction, Lower Grade/Middle Grade Fiction

Specific Island: St. John


My Name Is Not Angelica by Scott O’Dell
Genre: Historical Fiction, Middle Grade Fiction

Various Caribbean Islands (unnamed or imaginary) or Stories on the Caribbean Sea


The Buccaneers (High Seas Adventures, #3) by Iain Lawrence
Genre: Historical Fiction, Adventure, Sea Stories, Young Adult Fiction

A Caribbean Mystery (Miss Marple, #10) by Agatha Christie
Genre: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Travel Stories, Adult Fiction

The Cay (The Cay, #1) by Theodore Taylor
Genre: Survival Stories, Adventure, Historical Fiction, Middle Grade Fiction

The Expeditioners and the Secrets of King Triton’s Lair (The Expeditioners, #2) by S.S. Taylor, ill. by Katherine Roy
Genre: Adventure Stories, Mystery, Steampunk, Middle Grade Fiction

How Many Days to America?: a Thanksgiving Story by Eve Bunting, ill. by Beth Peck
Genre: Survival Stories, Historical Fiction, Holiday Stories, Refugee Stories, Picture Books

Hurricane Dancers: the First Caribbean Pirate Shipwreck by Margarita Engle
Genre: Adventure Stories, Legends, Historical Fiction, Novels in Verse, Young Adult Fiction

Island People: the Caribbean and the World by Joshua Jelly-Shapiro
Genre: Travel Stories, Cultural Studies, History, Social Sciences, Adult Nonfiction