Review: Addy: A Heart Full of Hope

American Girl Historical Characters

By Connie Porter

Illustrated by Dahl Taylor

Available now from American Girl

Review copy

Addy: A Heart Full of Hope picks up where Addy: Finding Freedom ended and collects the final three books in the Addy series, edited to flow as one story. Once again, I couldn't tell where the original books began and ended when reading.

I appreciate that Connie Porter didn't make Addy's story entirely about slavery. The American Girls have the burden of representing history to children, and Addy's time living free in Pennsylvania helps give a fuller portrait of Black lives in the late 19th century. At the same time, Addy:A Heart Full of Hope lacks the distressing details and terrifying flight of Addy: Finding Freedom. Most of the American Girl book series peaked in action with the final "Saves the Day" book. Not so for Addy, whose fundraising efforts can't compare to escaping slavery in a desperate flight.

Still, there are plenty of events to keep young readers turning the pages, including Addy's hope of reuniting with her older brother.

The "Inside Addy's World" section at the end of the novel provides more historical detail on life for Black people after the Civil War. This nonfiction section is an excellent extension of the novel, which is full of fascinating historical detail. I appreciate the advisory board that put so much effort into the Addy novels. I think these books are a great way to introduce young readers to slavery, the Civil War, community organization, and civil rights. I love that they're being repackaged for a new generation.

Since 2021 is the 35th anniversary of the Pleasant Company, a reproduction of the original Addy is currently available for sale, in addition to the current version.

Review: Yes, Daddy

By Jonathan Parks-Ramage

Available now from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Review copy

Yes, Daddy looks like a salacious summer novel. Jonathan Parks-Ramage's debut is something much sadder. I'm not sure that the blurb does it many favors by promising decisive revenge.

The story starts with a glimpse of the trial of Jonah Keller's ex-boyfriend Richard, a famous playwright. From this glimpse, we know that when the time comes, Jonah is unable to tell the truth. He crumples on the stand and saves his own reputation, not letting anyone question whether he deserved it or what kind of victim he is. From there, Yes, Daddy starts an extended flashback detailing their relationship from beginning to end before revealing what happens after. (While taking some oddly meandering detours along the way.)

Jonah is a deliberately difficult protagonist to like. He's vain, shallow, selfish, and callow. Yes, Daddy forces a reaction to a victim who isn't likeable, who doesn't react like victim narratives say they should. I think it is a valid narrative avenue to explore, but I was pretty sick of Jonah before I made it even a third of the way through the novel. 

This is a dark novel, beyond the graphic scenes of sexual assault. Yes, Daddy also deals with harmful religious counseling, invasive and vicious tabloid journalism, incest, probable murder, and suicide. While it doesn't have a completely downer ending, it isn't very uplifting, either. All catharsis is minor.

I think Yes, Daddy is a well-written novel that tackles thorny issues and a prickly protagonist with sympathy. But I didn't much enjoy the experience of reading it.

Review: Addy: Finding Freedom

American Girl Historical Characters

By Connie Porter

Illustrated by Dahl Taylor

Available now from American Girl

Review copy

Addy: Finding Freedom collects three books in the Addy series, edited to flow as one story. I couldn't tell where the original books began and ended when reading.

Addy was the first Black doll made by the Pleasant Company, before they became American Girl. I appreciate the lengths they went to in order to tell Addy's story with historical accuracy and keep it appropriate for young girls. The novels were written with the help of an advisory board made up of historians and other experts, which I actually think would be useful for all the American Girl historical novels.

The story starts in 1864, when Addy is a slave on a plantation. The story does not gloss over the realities of slavery. One visceral, unforgettable image is when Addy is forced to eat the worm off a crop because the overseer was unsatisfied with her work picking insects. (This is a real thing that was done to children.) Even in escape, Addy's family has to make decisions about who is too young and too old to make the journey. Her father and brother are also sold before their family can make their attempt.

Not all of Addy: Finding Freedom is so gut wrenching. There's quite a bit of detail about the Black community in Pennsylvania. There are concerns about work, school, housing. No one can escape having a mean girl in their class. Addy is also concerned with paying it forward and helping others who are starting with nothing like she and her mother did. Along the way, she even gets a Christmas miracle.

The Addy books have meant a lot to generations of children. I'm glad the books are being republished with fresh, appealing covers. There's also an interesting section in the back with further historical information.

Since 2021 is the 35th anniversary of the Pleasant Company, a reproduction of the original Addy is currently available for sale, in addition to the current version.

Review: Dinosaurs: A Smithsonian Coloring Book

Illustrated by Rachel Curtis

Available now from IDW Publishing

Review copy

Dinosaurs: A Smithsonian Coloring Book combines facts with full-page coloring. Like many adult coloring books, there is only one coloring page per spread. However, the facing page isn't wasted. Instead, it is filled with facts collected by employees of the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. Much has been learned about dinosaurs since my childhood, and I felt like I learned something. There are also colorable borders around the facts.

The art itself is lovely and no space is wasted - the art goes all the way off the page. There are lots of fine details giving the dinosaurs and their environments texture. This works well for me, but I think this book would be frustrating for young children who like dinosaurs. It also might not be good for those with motor control issues.

The paper is nice and holds up well to both crayons and colored pencils. It even holds up okay to markers, although there is a little bleeding. Overall, it is a well-constructed coloring book. These are not perforated pages, which I don't mind as I don't decorate with my coloring.

I think Dinosaurs is a terrific coloring book for adult coloring fans. The ink illustrations are so lush.