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Sky Blue Water

Great Stories for Young Readers

ebook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available

From the Dakota people who first inhabited the state to its generations of immigrants and today's residents, Minnesota has long had a vibrant and unique storytelling tradition. A rich and often under appreciated part of this tradition is youth storytelling—a movement of which Minnesota is a national forerunner. Here, for the first time, two of the state's beloved independent booksellers collect a wide array of short stories for young readers that pay homage to Minnesota's diverse cultures and stunning landscapes.

Sky Blue Water celebrates young adult and intermediate fiction from some of Minnesota's most beloved and award-winning authors to emerging talents and many more. With each turn of the page, every young reader will find a poignant and relatable story: tales of discovering hidden truths about one's family, dealing with a difficult bully, and falling for the new kid who dresses like a cowboy, as well as settings from Rainy Lake to Lake Calhoun and time periods from Prohibition to the present day. Featuring primarily never-published stories, this anthology beautifully captures the essence of a Minnesota adolescence in twenty short stories and poems. Sky Blue Water features a Q&A between Minnesota classrooms and the contributing authors as well as curriculum materials for families, teachers, and students.

This collection embodies passion for fostering literacy in young readers. A portion of the proceeds from Sky Blue Water will go to the Mid-Continent Oceanographic Institute, a Twin Cities organization offering free tutoring and writing assistance for students ages six to eighteen.

Contributors: William Alexander; Swati Avasthi; Kelly Barnhill; Mary Casanova; John Coy; Kirstin Cronn-Mills; Anika Fajardo; Shannon Gibney; Pete Hautman; Lynne Jonell; Kevin Kling; Margi Preus; Marcie Rendon; Kurtis Scaletta; Julie Schumacher; Joyce Sidman; Phuoc Thi Minh Tran; Anne Ursu; Sarah Warren; Stephanie Watson; Kao Kalia Yang.

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    • School Library Journal

      October 1, 2016

      Gr 5 Up-A diverse range of authors with Minnesota ties present 20 stories and poems for tweens and teens. A few marvelously weave the supernatural into the everyday: a girl discovers a troublesome sprite in the schoolyard foliage; a boy gets caught in an ancient war between a lake and a road. Even the selections that are more grounded in reality often include a surprising twist, such as an unexpected and unearthly message from a grandfather or the fierce love of a boy for the doll his mother cherished. Those entries that do stick to realism are some of the most emotionally resonant: a young boy relishes the brief visits and fishing trips he has with his Mexican half brother; an Ojibwe teen stuck in the foster system connects to her father and her heritage for the first time. Featuring Joyce Sidman's evocative, accessible poetry, this is a well-curated volume that expertly showcases the art and power of short form writing. The Minnesota theme is only lightly applied-readers in other regions will have no trouble relating to these common adolescent emotions and experiences. However, this may prove to be a difficult collection for libraries to classify. The first few pieces are clearly aimed at upper elementary readers, but those in the second half of the book transition quickly to more mature teen concerns. Extensive back matter contains author reflections on the writing process, writing prompts, and classroom activities paired with many of the stories. VERDICT A high-quality anthology full of classroom potential, sure to inspire budding writers and hook casual readers, too.-Chelsea Couillard-Smith, Hennepin County Library, MN

      Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

    • Kirkus

      July 15, 2016
      A book of short stories from Minnesota aims to deliver good, old-fashioned storytelling.In a time when literature for kids and teens is flooded with vampires, wizards, superheroes, and barbaric dystopian worlds (that are sometimes violently liberated by teens), it is refreshing to find a book of short stories that take young readers back to the ordinary, day-to-day life of a young person, days that contain drama, humor, and sometimes a little magic. This mother lode of short stories by talented Minnesota writers offers vivid glimpses into the cultural life of the state through the eyes of its youth. From the cities to the Boundary Waters, the stories, and a handful of short poems, celebrate the diversity of its landscape and inhabitants. In each story, friendships and family moments possess an authenticity that transcends race, culture, and state borders, making it accessible to readers across the country. Contributors include Swati Avasthi, Joyce Sidman, Shannon Gibney, Pete Hautman, Kristin Cronn-Mills, and Anika Fajardo, among others. The authors get into the heads of their young characters through their spot-on use of dialogue and genuine senses of innocence and wonder. This is a particularly valuable tool for educators, as the book includes author interviews as well as classroom prompts and creative-writing activities. Young readers may be surprised to see that everyday life can be entirely engaging.

      COPYRIGHT(2016) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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