For this week’s Brainstorm I have stories about intergenerational friendships for you. These are stories of kids who befriend people around their grandparents’ age, or vice versa, and who both benefit greatly from the relationship. They are touching and a beautiful reminder that there’s so much we can learn from those both older and younger than us. Click on the titles to see my full review of each title including any content notes/trigger warnings.
Eddie Whatever by Lois Ruby
In a nutshell: A boy doing a community service project at a nursing home solves a mystery and makes unexpected friends who teach him important life lessons along the way.
More info: Eddie has to do a community service project as one of his bar mitvah requirements. His mom signs him up to volunteer at the Silver Brook Pavilion retirement home. Eddie feels like he already has enough on his plate with the robotics club (which has hit a major road block), baseball team (still yet to win a game), and worrying about whatever has made his dad so mopey and caused his parents to fight behind closed doors. He isn't sure if he can handle volunteering at the retirement home. The people there are...odd, and some of the residents inform him the place is haunted by the twin of the lady who likes to guard the front door. As the days pass, the residents do start to grow on Eddie. And when more and more things go missing, blamed on the ghost, Eddie starts to think there may be a very un-supernatural answer. But can he catch the thief before he goes down for the crime and loses his chance at completing his bar mitvah?
Extra thoughts: The quirky residents of Silver Brook really grow on the reader as they grow on Eddie. They are by turns hilarious and moving. I loved how the story showed the value of intergenerational friendships (for both parties), and how meaningful just being there to listen can be to someone.
Target readers: Contemporary Fiction Fans, Mystery Fans, Memorable Character Fans, Feel Good Story Fans, Middle Grade Readers
The House at the End of the Road by Kari Rust
In a nutshell: Three children make an unexpected friend of the man who lives in the “creepy” house near their grandmother.
More info: Three cousins staying with their grandmother for the summer think a nearby house is spooky. Their grandmother corrects them, and introduces them to the owner, her old school teacher, Mr. Peterson. When he gets sick and his old house is condemned, the kids decide to find a way to preserve the memories of the old house for Mr. Peterson.
Extra thoughts: This is a charmingly illustrated, heartfelt picture book about a beautiful friendship and fun cousin experiences.
Target readers: Contemporary Fiction Fans, Cousin Story Fans, Don’t Judge a Book (Person/House) by Its Cover Story Fans, Feel Good Story Fans, Picture Book Readers
Macy McMillan and the Rainbow Goddess by Shari Green
In a nutshell: A deaf girl and her elderly neighbor both packing up for moves, help each other face the changes ahead.
More info: Macy likes her life with just her Mom and her in their cozy house with her reading nook window and her garden of flowers. But her Mom is getting married to Alan and they'll be moving in with him and his 6 year old twin girls. Macy is refusing to pack, because that would make it more real. Her mom has volunteered her to pack their elderly neighbor's books for her, though, and she can't procrastinate on that. At first she and the lady next door have problems communicating since Macy is deaf, but soon they work out a system, and Macy finds an unexpected friend in Iris, named for the rainbow goddess. Iris turns out to be the friend Macy needs right now as they both face upcoming moves, Macy deals with friendship issues at school, and struggles to do a genealogy project that feels awkward since she doesn't know who her dad is and would force her to acknowledge that her family is changing.
Extra thoughts: This is a super quick read thanks to the novel in verse format. I let it linger on my TBR for a while because I didn't find the cover appealing and the title seemed odd, but after reading it both make a lot of sense. The author did a great job writing as if from the perspective of someone who can’t hear. I loved the friendship between Iris and Macy. They are so good for each other, and the way they use books they love to build that friendship and communicate important skills for navigating change is beautiful. Also, you must be aware that having cookies or cookie ingredients on hand is a requirement for reading this story since Iris teaches Macy how to send messages with different flavors of cookies.
Target readers: Contemporary Fiction Fans, Quick Read Fans, Novels in Verse Fans, Fans of Deaf Characters, Moving/Changes Story Fans, Fans of Books about Books, Cookie Lovers, Award Winner Readers, Middle Grade Readers
Old Friends by Margaret Aitken, ill. by Lenny Wen
In a nutshell: A girl missing her grandmother goes looking for new friends with similar hobbies at the local retirement home.
More info: Marjorie loves gardening, baking, and knitting, and has trouble finding friends who also enjoy those things. She misses her grandma who she could talk to about those subjects, so she decides to go in search of others her grandma's age who could give her advice. But the retirement home won't let kids go to the knitting or gardening club so Marjorie has to get creative to find some new friends.
Extra thoughts: A very fun intergenerational story with equally fun illustrations.
Target readers: Contemporary Fiction Fans, Humor Fans, Crafty Kid Character Fans, Picture Book Readers
Sue & Tai-Chan Vol. 1 (Sue & Tai-Chan, #1) by Kanata Konami, translated by Melissa Tanaka
In a nutshell: An older cat must survive an energetic visiting kitten while its owner goes on vacation.
More info: Tai is a little kitten whose owner is going away for a few weeks. Sue is an older housecat who is not thrilled to have a little visitor. Can Sue keep the energetic youngster in line without wearing herself out in the process?
Extra thoughts: Such a cute manga about a very energetic and curious little kitten, and an older cat who may have a little more bounce left in her than she believes and just needs a kitten around to bring it out. The antics of these two obviously has come from watching real older and younger cats interact. Also, this manga doesn’t read right to left, it reads like a typical English book, so it is easier for Western readers to get into.
Target readers: Cat Lovers, Manga Fans, Animal Story Fans, Graphic Novel Fans, Middle Grade Readers (though approachable to younger and appealing to older readers too)
Swim Team by Johnnie Christmas
In a nutshell: An elderly neighbor and her posse teach new Floridian Bree how to swim and help coach her school’s swim team to hopeful victory, the possible last chance to save the school slotted for demolition.
More info: Bree and her father just moved from New Jersey to Florida. Bree thankfully finds some quick friends, but her class schedule at her new school is stressing her out. The electives she wanted were all full and she's stuck with Swim 101. But Bree can't swim, and she is very reluctant to admit that in front of other who have been swimming all their lives in sunny Florida. An accident with her apartment complex pool has Bree even more afraid of water, but it also helps her find someone she can trust enough to get in the water. Ms Etta, her older neighbor who looks after her when her father is out. Under Ms Etta's instruction Bree is swimming in no time, and even gets recruited by her Swim 101 instructor to try out for the school swim team. For the first time in ages their swim team has a chance of going to State, and it may mean the difference between the school pool getting paved over for a slushie shop or ongoing swimming opportunities. But team dynamics seem to be holding the team back. Can they learn how to be good teammates in time for the State finals?
Extra thoughts: I really loved how Ms Etta and others of her generation poured into Bree and her teammates. Intergenerational relationships are so important and this story shows how valuable they can be. There's very wise advice about peaceful resolution methods to conflicts included, and all the various things included felt well-balanced.
Target readers: Contemporary Fiction Fans, Swimming Story Fans, Florida Setting Fans, Older Kids Learning to Swim Story Fans, Reconciliation Story Fans, Graphic Novel Fans, Award Winner Readers, Middle Grade Readers
Unplugged and Unpopular by Mat Heagerty, ill. by Tintin Pantoja, colors by Mike Amante
In a nutshell: Grounded from her devices, Erin starts to see the aliens who are taking over using everyone’s devices, and the only other unplugged people who can help her save the planet are some elderly librarians.
More info: In the near future, people use their phones and technology for everything. Erin Song is no different. Her world revolves around her popularity rating and how to improve it, so when the most popular girl at school asks her to help her on a test, Erin agrees. If it boosts her popularity, it’ll be ok. Right? Well, her teacher and parents think differently when she’s busted. Her parents take away all her devices, and it is pretty much the end of the world. Erin thinks she’s starting to see things because of the stress when a weird creature appears outside of the library. But soon the old librarians clue her in to the fact that that isn’t the case. There’s an alien invasion but the aliens are using devices to control what people see so only those who are unplugged know what is going on. Can a girl and some old dudes save the world from an alien invasion no one else believes is happening?
Extra thoughts: I like the clever way this book introduces the idea that perhaps we need to unplug a little bit more. Erin and the senior citizens are a most unconventional army, but they are lots of fun to follow around.
Target readers: Graphic Novel Fans, Humor Fans, Science Fiction Fans, Alien Invasion Story Fans, Unlikely Hero Fans, Friendship Story Fans, Unplugging Story Fans, Asian American Character Fans, Middle Grade Readers
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