Brave Optimists (Nancy Adamson, Rachel McOuat, Shelly Honey and Lisa Hauk Meekr)

It was nerve wracking to be among the last groups to pick our pair of Smackdown books, and we were left with one book that looked enjoyable and one with a cover that made me cringe.  What a delight to find out that both books were great reads!  Annother great start with Smackdown!

As Brave As You by Jason Reynolds introduces us to Genie, a New Yorker boy sent to his grandparents home in rural Virginia as his parents struggle with their marriage.  A new and different lifestyle involving chores, the outdoors and aging grandparents lead Genie to create unending journal questions.  Reynolds explores bravery, family relationships secrets and honesty in this really delightful middle school novel.  

Optimists die First by Susin Nielson had the book jacket that turned me off... but the old cliche held true.  The protagonist, Petula De Wilde. is paralyzed by anxieties and guilt stemming from the untimely death of her baby sister.  Her relationships with other classmates ('misfits') in her school art therapy group lead her to some romance, some resolution to  her stresses, to questioning and developing friendships and honesty, and ultimately to optimism.  Petula is quirky and I totally grew to love her.  

Hard vote for me as I truly enjoyed both books.  Although As Brave as You would go in my classroom library as it is most grade appropriate for Grade 6, I have to cast my vote for Optimists die Young!  

(***Caveat:  Due to the implied consensual sex, this book may not be appropriate for all grade levels)