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Professional Reader

Thursday, January 28, 2021

Intrepids

Intrepids by Diana Huang
My 4th year participating in reviewing a book for Multicultural Children's Book Day (MCBD) #ReadYourWorld.
Thank you to Diana Huang, author, for sending me her book to review along with three fun book marks.  
The mission of MCBD is:
Our mission is to not only raise awareness for the kid’s books that celebrate diversity but to get more of these of books into classrooms and libraries.

I enjoyed "Intrepids" more than I thought I would.  I'm not much, if any, of a sci-fi reader and so when I received this book I was a little concerned it just wouldn't be the right fit for me.  However, Katie, the main character/protagonist, I really "got".  I think this middle grade story does a great job of presenting themes such as bullying, finding yourself, confidence building, and racial/ethnic discrimination. Katie is a US citizen, but due to her Asian background/upbringing she is discriminated against.

The story opens with Katie at a science camp in the summer.  She is clearly being bullied by the other campers.  I appreciated the author's honesty in writing about specific "tween" situations that all of us have likely experienced: not fitting in, the dreaded "showering" in front of others, body image issues, and also just dealing with kids who are jerks. She also shares that she struggles with academics and her parents don't seem to be understanding of this.  Very early on Katie runs from campers who are bullying her.  She runs into the woods and when she feels it is safe to rest she sits down and eats an apple.  This apple is magical and transports her to another planet.  On this planet she meets centaurs who are fighting the dreaded gowels (I envisioned a snake like creature).  The gowels are taking over the planet and controlling other "beings" all very mythical aka centaurs, dragon like creatures, and flops, by biting them and releasing phenom which then turns them into the gowel's slaves.  Katie is a true leader throughout the story and the animals/beings really look to her for education, information, guidance, and this then allows her to grow confidence in herself.  

I struggled with the ending of the book.  Katie makes it back to earth by finding the tree with magical apples and eating another one.  However, there is no closure with any of the "camp" issues that are introduced at the beginning.  It was a very quick read and the sci-fi was fine.  I know the author is a talented artist and so think her drawings could have added to this story.  Three star read for me.  

I'd like to highlight those that have supported this years MCBD #ReadYourWorld event.  

MCBD 2021 is honored to be Supported by these Medallion Sponsors!

FOUNDER’S CIRCLE: Mia Wenjen (Prgamaticmom) and Valarie Budayr’s (Audreypress.com)

Platinum SponsorsLanguage Lizard Bilingual Books in 50+ LanguagesAuthor Deedee Cummings and Make A Way Media

Gold Sponsors: Barefoot BooksCandlewick PressCapstoneHoopoe Books, KidLitTVPeachtree Publishing Company Inc.

Silver Sponsors: Charlotte RiggleConnecticut Association of School LibrariansAuthor Kimberly Gordon BiddlePack-N-Go Girls

Bronze Sponsors: Agatha Rodi and AMELIE is IMPRESSED!Barnes Brothers BooksCreate and Educate Solutions, LLCDreambuilt BooksDyesha and Triesha McCants/McCants SquaredRedfin Real EstateSnowflake StoriesStar Bright BooksTimTimTom Bilingual Personalized BooksAuthor Vivian KirkfieldWisdom Tales PressMy Well Read Child

MCBD 2021 is honored to be Supported by these Author Sponsors!

Poster Artist: Nat Iwata

Authors: Author Afsaneh MoradianAuthor Alva Sachs & Three Wishes Publishing CompanyAuthor Angeliki Stamatopoulou-PedersenAuthor Anna OlswangerAuthor Casey Bell Author Claudine NordenAuthor Debbie DadeyAuthor Diana Huang & IntrepidsAuthor Eugenia Chu & Brandon goes to BeijingGreen Kids ClubAuthor Gwen JacksonAuthor Janet Balletta, Author Josh FunkAuthor Julia InserroKarter Johnson & Popcorn and BooksAuthor Kathleen Burkinshaw & The Last Cherry BlossomAuthor Keila DawsonMaya/Neel Adventures with Culture GrooveAuthor Mia WenjenMichael GenhartNancy Tupper LingAuthor Natalie MurrayNatalie McDonald-PerkinsAuthor Natasha YimAuthor Phe Lang and Me On The Page Publishing, Sandra Elaine ScottAuthor Shoumi Sen & From The Toddler DiariesSISSY GOES TINY by Rebecca Flansburg and B.A. NorrgardSusan Schaefer Bernardo & Illustrator Courtenay FletcherTales of the Five Enchanted MermaidsAuthor Theresa MackiewiczTonya Duncan and the Sophie Washington Book SeriesAuthor Toshia StelivanValerie Williams-Sanchez & The Cocoa Kids Collection Books©Author Vanessa Womack, MBAAuthor Veronica Appleton & the Journey to Appleville book series



 

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