With Valentine’s Day next week, I thought it would be a good time to share some more inspirational kindness stories (the first one was Brainstorm 195). Not all love has to be mushy. There’s good ol’ neighborly and brotherly love to be shared and celebrated too, and that’s what these books are all about. Those little thank yous, those unexpected acts of kindness and compassion from the person who is supposed to be an “enemy,” sharing with someone in a time of need, and those simple smiles that brighten someone’s day. So here’s some stories about acts of kindness that make a difference, touching both the recipient and the giver. Click on the title to see my full review including any content notes/trigger warnings.
Across a Star-Swept Sea (For Darkness Shows the Stars, #2) by Diana Peterfreund
After Earth was all but destroyed in a war, the survivors built the islands of New Pacifica, Albion and Galatea. In Galatea two generations ago, Persistence Helo developed a cure for the Reduced, so that now no one on the islands suffers from the debilitating brain disorder. Well, at least until the Revolution. On Galatea, the regs are tired of the overlording aristos and royalty, so under the leadership of Citizen Aldred they are fighting back and waging a bio-weapons war by giving captured aristos a drug that renders them Reduced. Albion so far has not joined in on the social strife. But not everyone on Albion is comfortable sitting back and watching while their island neighbors suffer. One Albian in particular has become a legendary hope for the Galateans under threat of the new reduction, the Wild Poppy, an Albian man with cunning and amazing skills for rescuing aristos right out from under the noses of the Galatean revolutionary leaders. No one knows who the Wild Poppy is, and Lady Persis Blake is doing everything she can to make sure that remains true. Who would guess that the cunning spy masquerades by day as the flippant and fluffy headed friend of the Albion Princess Regent Isla? But will her secret stay secret, and can she keep up the Wild Poppy’s rescues when the stakes go up?
If you didn’t figure it out already, this is a futuristic scifi reimagining of Baroness Orczy’s The Scarlet Pimpernel. I’m including it here because Lady Persis didn’t have to rescue anyone, but she risks her life repeatedly to save people whose lives are on the line. It's pretty radical kindness. This is technically book 2 in a series (the first book is a reimagining of Jane Austen’s Persuasion), and the ending has more depth if you’ve read the first book but it isn’t strictly necessary to read both.
Target Readers:
Sacrificial Rescue Operation Story Fans, Reimagined Classics Fans, Scarlet Pimpernel Fans, Spy Story Fans, Scifi Fans, Thriller Fans, Young Adult & Adult Readers
The Big Storm (Beak & Ally, #3) by Norm Feuti
Ally is enjoying a quiet swim in the rain when Beak informs her it's going to get much worse. Ally isn't too concerned, but she does help Beak with her nest fortifications. When the storm hits and Ally notices others in trouble, she's quick to help out. But when the storm clears it appears these others have no words of thanks for her. Why are they ignoring her?
This is a sweet story of neighbors showing kindness and helping each other out in a time of crisis.
Target Readers:
Community Kindness Story Fans, Storm Recovery Story Fans, Animal Lovers, Graphic Novel Fans, Friendship Story Fans, Lower Grade Readers
Give It! (A Moneybunny Book) by Cinders McLeod
Chummy was given 10 carrots by his Gran. Chummy knows just what he's going to spend it on. A superhero outfit so he can save the world from dragons! But then Gran challenges Chummy to maybe give some of it away, and tells him how the bees in their area are hungry. What will Chummy decide to do?
This is part of a whole series about money handling tips for kids done in very cute and engaging ways. This book in the series beautifully inspires kindness and generosity.
Target Readers:
Little Money Handlers, Rabbit Lovers, Generosity Learners, Picture Book Readers
Lines of Courage by Jennifer A. Nielsen
As WWI crashes across the lands of Europe, 5 kids who grow into teens over the years of the war find their lives crossing. There's Felix from Austria-Hungary who witnessed the event that started the war and whose Jewish family is in increasing danger as the war grows. There's Elsa, the daughter of a German military leader and a friend of Felix's family who raises homing pigeons. There's Kara, a British girl whose father died early in the war and who has joined her mother on a Red Cross train in France working to help the wounded. There's Juliette, who has been searching for her family since they became separated during the evacuation of Verdun. And there's Dimitri, who was dragged from his family farm in Russia to fight for the Czar even though he's still only 14. Each one must discover what courage really means, and fight to remain kind and loving in a war that leaves so many bitter and angry at the world.
Nielsen has expertly woven a tale that reminds readers that war is messy and awful, and that kindness and the courage to do what is right breaks barriers of language and labels of "enemy" to restore humanity and hope. This is one of my favorite reads of the year so far!
Target Readers:
WWI Story Fans, Line-Crossing Kindness Story Fans, Survival Story Fans, Friendship Story Fans, Feel Good Story Fans, Historical Fiction Fans, Middle Grade Readers on up
A New Day by Brad Meltzer, ill. by Dan Santat
Sunday was tired. So Sunday quits. This puts the other days of the week in a bit of a bind. They need something to fill that gap every week, so they put up notices and start applications for a new day of the week. It starts off ok, but the tryouts get wilder and wilder as they go on. Until a little girl has a new idea.
This is a story about how we can so easily take others for granted, and the power a simple word of kindness, like a sincere thank you, can have. It’s also wildly entertaining and full of all sorts of interesting single day celebrations.
Target Readers:
Humor Fans, Fantasy Fans, Obscure Holiday/Celebration Fans, Picture Book Readers
The Ogress and the Orphans by Kelly Barnhill
Once upon a time Stone-in-the-Glen was a wonderful place to live. But then the dragon came and the library burned down, and then the school, and then a sink hole claimed the park, and with each loss the town grew a bit more sullen and sad, and the people became more selfish and less trusting. The orphanage didn't use to have to worry about their next meal, but now Matron and Myron are barely able to provide for the 15 growing children from teen Anthea to baby Orpheus. There's an Ogress who lives on the outskirts of town, and given that she's mostly active at night, nobody thinks of her much. That is until she becomes a handy misdirection for the evil festering in the middle of Stone-in-the-Glen. Only the Ogress, some animals, and the 15 orphans know the true danger residing in Stone-in-the-Glen. But can they expose and drive out the evil before the town of Stone-in-the-Glen tears itself apart with hate?
This is an artfully written story about the power of kindness and what it means to be a neighbor in the midst of a bleak and selfish landscape.
Target Readers:
Fantasy Fans, Orphan Story Fans, Mythical Creature Fans, Inspirational Kindness Story Fans, Good Triumphing Over Evil Story Fans, Middle Grade Readers on up
The Pirates Next Door (The Jolley-Rogers) by Jonny Duddle
When pirates move into Dull-on-Sea all the residents are concerned except Matilda who is thrilled. Matilda has waited for years for a friend to move next door, and she thinks the boy in the family is fun to be with. And as more and more neighbors complain, the Jolley-Rogers prepare to leave. But are these pirates really as bad as everyone says?
The ending to this is fabulous. I love how the Jolley-Rogers turn the other cheek and repay the unkindness of the town with extraordinary kindness.
Target Readers:
Pirate Character Fans, Humor Fans, Community Story Fans, Picture Book Readers
A Quilt for Christmas by Melody Carlson
Widower Vera Swanson just moved to Eastern Oregon, and her kids can't come for Christmas, so Vera finds herself alone for the holidays for the first time. But a neighbor's emergency appendicitis while her husband is out of town means Vera finds herself caring for 2 elementary age children in addition to 4 year old little Fiona. While spending time with Vera, Fiona sees the beautiful quilts Vera has made and commandeers Vera’s help to make a patchwork quilt for her mama for Christmas. There are only a few weeks until Christmas and Vera doesn’t know anyone in town who could help her quilt. Vera isn’t hopeful, but she also can see Fiona’s family is having a hard time. Pushed by a determined 4 year old, and with some obvious divine providence, Vera manages to find 3 other women in the area interested in learning how to quilt and helping make Fiona’s wish for her mama come true. There’s Tasha, an artsy young woman who helps her aunt out at the florist shop in town and is interested in quilting as an artform, there’s Beverly a bubbly middle age woman whose grandmother was a quilter but passed on before she could teach her, and there’s Eleanor a prickly, retired therapist who needs something quiet to help fill her days since retirement. The group is off to a rough start thanks to Eleanor’s icy personality and the fact that they agreed to meet at her house before they realized what an ordeal that would be. Vera isn’t sure they will meet the Christmas deadline, or if this quilting project will be a blessing or disaster for those involved.
I know we’ve just passed the Christmas season, but this is such a great story about how acts of kindness help not only the helped but the helpers that I couldn’t help but include it. It’s also got nods to Dickens’ A Christmas Carol if you look for them.
Target Readers:
Feel Good Christmas Story Fans, Kindness Story Fans, Christmas Carol Rewrite Fans, Contemporary Fiction Fans, Quick Read Fans, Adult Readers (though approachable to YA and Middle Grade readers)
Shine by J.J. & Chris Grabenstein
Piper comes from very musical and accomplished parents, but she can't carry a tune in a bucket. She wishes she had some kind of talent, but she feels very ordinary. This becomes an even bigger issue when her father gets a job at the exclusive Chumley Prep and she is transferred there too. Her mother was a shining star at Chumley for her music skills, and Piper feels like she has big shoes to fill but nothing to fill them with. Not only that, but the week she arrives the school announces a new Excelsior Award with undisclosed qualifications. The students are just informed that there are secret judges and the winner will be announced mid-March. Suddenly students at Chumley are going crazy to win all the awards and acclamations they can get. Piper too gets swept up in the craze, but when the competition starts to come between her and some of her new friends, Piper starts to realize that awards aren't worth some sacrifices.
I’m trying not to give any spoilers, but I will say that the emphasis of this book is on kindness and things that really matter in the long run. And it is a fabulous feel good story.
Target Readers:
Contemporary Fiction Fans, School Story Fans, Relatable Character Fans, Kindness Story Fans, Feel Good Story Fans, Middle Grade Readers
Wombat Underground by Sarah L. Thomson, ill. by Charles Santoso
Echidna, wallaby, skink, and wombat are going about their normal activities in the Australian bush. But as things dry out and a lightning storm rolls in, a forest fire starts. Echidna, wallaby, and skink need a safe place to flee from the fire. Is wombat willing to share its underground den?
Lyrical writing, stunning illustrations, and a tenderhearted story about sharing in times of disasters. There’s also nonfiction information in the back of the book about Australian wildfires and how they impact the wildlife.
Target Readers:
Animal Lovers, Australian Setting Fans, Wildfire Studiers, Art Lovers, Kindness Story Fans, Those Considering How to Help Victims of Disasters, Picture Book Readers
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