Reviews and Praise

Want to know more about the writing of Bibi Belford? Check out what others are saying about her latest work here, and scroll down for links to other reviews, too:

  • Praise for CANNED AND CRUSHED:

    • “[A] never-a-dull-moment debut….fitted with an admirable, funny protagonist.”—Kirkus Reviews

    • “Belford compassionately reveals that there’s far more to Sandro than just his misbehavior; his family’s poverty and immigration worries lead Sandro to take on far more than an 11-year-old should. Sandro’s breezy, conversational narrative, often directed at the reader, offsets the weight of his troubles in this eye-opening story that will likely resonate with a wide audience.”—Booklist

    • “Belford’s debut contains complex characterization: Sandro is affable and witty, yet his quick temper and poor decision-making will ring true to young readers….readers are likely to stick with Sandro till the sweet, wobbly end.”—School Library Journal

    • “Holy guacamole! You’ve got to meet soccer star Sandro, whose brain is as quick as his feet—which is good because between chasing a turtle who’s an escape artist, helping his dad collect roadkill, and conquering fourth grade, he’s got to move fast. Luckily, Sandro’s the kind of kid who puts the can in can-do and the fun in funny. You’ll laugh out loud at Sandro’s adventures, sympathize with his foul-ups, and cheer for his wins. Also, watch out: you’ll never look at duct tape or fourth grade the same way again!” —Valerie Tripp, best-selling author of the American Girl series books

    • “Sandro is the type of kid you rush to sit by in the cafeteria just so you can hear what he says or see what he does next. Canned and Crushed will charm you, as Sandro is a sweet-hearted, accident-prone mischief-maker you won’t forget. The only thing bigger than the messes he finds himself in is his heart.” —Beth Vrabel, author of Pack of Dorks

    • “…(in) Canned and Crushed…Belford has given readers a complex male Hispanic lead, something still too unheard of in literature. She’s also provided a lot of gentle lessons, as well as heart, to a creative story. I expect Belford to be around for a long time as an author in demand. … Make it a top priority to read.” –Allison’s Book Bag  Read the full review on Allison’s Book Bag

    • CANNED AND CRUSHED is included on the LATINX IN KID LIT – Middle Grade Lit list, on latinosinkidlit.com – Exploring the world of Latinx YA, MG, and children’s literature.

  • Praise for CROSSING THE LINE:

    • Editorial Reviews

      • “Readers of all ages will be pulled into this strong, warm, and important coming-of-age story, seen through the eyes of an innocent boy trying to make sense of a racially violent world around him. Blending honesty and humor with history isn’t easy, but Bibi Belford has hit all her marks with courage and conviction.”―Randall Platt, author of Incommunicado and The Girl Who Wouldn’t Die

      • “‘We have stories to tell,’ Bibi Belford writes in this powerful novel, ‘if we are brave to tell them.’ And I’m so glad to have read this brave story. Crossing the Line tackles tough issues that didn’t make sense in Billy’s lifetime, and that don’t make sense now―and his journey is infused with hope that even the smallest among us can be a catalyst for big change.”―Beth Vrabel, author of Pack of Dorks and A Blind Guide to Stinkville

      • “A heart-wrenching, heart-pounding read, set almost a hundred years ago but with themes that still resonate strongly today. The characters are unforgettable, and loyal even as their friendship is tested. A story that will leave you thinking about how you can cross the line.”―Lisa Ann Scott, author of Back on the Map and School of Charm

      • “A timely novel . . . Belford deftly walks her own line.” The Historical Novels Review

      • “There’s no easy way to solve the problem [of racism] but a start might be to require every fifth grader to read this book. It’s that powerful.” Always in the Middle

      • “Gritty and real and honest in a way that’s still okay for younger readers . . . this is a book that [every pre-teen needs] to read. Honestly, I would say that this is a book that everyone needs to read at some point or another. It’s definitely far and away one of the best books I’ve read this year.”―I Read Till Dawn

    • Top customer reviews

      • Amazon Customer 5.0 out of 5 starsCompelling and relevant, a great readDecember 9, 2017 History gets a compelling voice in Bibi Belford’s Crossing the Line. A story that starts with the simple tale of two young boys developing a friendship quickly becomes a much larger tale, one that would forever leave its mark on Chicago’s history. As Billy continues his journey he finds that he must confront fundamental questions about the nature of equality, the value of friendship, about what lines he is willing to follow, and what lines must be crossed. The author’s narrative seamlessly carries forth lessons from 1919 and lending relevance to questions that we are still struggling with today. A great read for kids and adults alike. I read Canned and Crushed every year to my 4th grade class because of how relevant and relatable is it to my diverse students I am going to add Crossing the Line to our repertoire as well!

      • JOD 5.0 out of 5 stars It kept me turning pages to the end October 22, 2017This excellent book kept me turning pages to the very end, to hear the voice of young Billy McDermott tell the story of his friendship with young Foster Williams. The two boys become best friends but hide it from their friends because of the invisible color line. The book is written for middle grades but can be appreciated at any age. Historical fiction is an enjoyable way to learn history, and this book is packed with history about Chicago in 1919 – the Stockyards, the White Sox (just before they became the Black Sox), the dirigible crash which killed a dozen people in the Loop, the Eastland capsizing disaster which killed 800 people on the Chicago River, and segregation. The true story it’s based on is this. The great northern migration sent thousands of African Americans from South to North beginning before 1916. The Black Belt of Chicago population of 50,000 nearly doubled during the war, yet no new houses or tenements were built. After Armistice Day, both white and black doughboys returned from the Great War looking for work. The racial tension exploded in Chicago on July 27, 1919. The real Eugene Williams drowned when he was hit with rocks for crossing the invisible color line near 29th St. while floating on a raft between the white beach and the black beach, setting off days of rioting. In this fictionalized version, Billy learns from his new friend that – “In the South, the hate is floatin’ on top of the water. But in Chicago, the hate is like them rocks in the river. When there’s plenty of water, you can’t see ‘em. But it’s low water now.” The writer portrays a child’s wish for things to be better, but painful recognition of how hard it is to change. The author carries just the right balance of the young “Gol dang” narrative with the harsh reality of segregation.

      • LMK 5.0 out of 5 stars A chance to understand history October 9, 2017 This book offers a fresh look at an old problem as a young boy struggles to understand racism just before the Chicago race riots. With genuine confusion and sincerity, Billy tries to figure out the reasons his black friends are treated so poorly and gets caught up in a firestorm of hatred. Readers get a fascinating history lesson told in Billy’s compelling voice that leaves us wondering why we still find ourselves in the grips of inequality when even a boy can see that it’s wrong. Interesting to note that it’s based on a true story.

      • J. Holmes 5.0 out of 5 stars A look from a boy’s eyes into a turbulent past–wonderful! March 12, 2018 There is so much we read about history, but because we didn’t live it, it remains somewhat distant. In Crossing the Line, Bibi Belford has created a character, Billy McDermott, who draws the reading into his personal struggle to follow his da’s advice or bow to peer pressure. Belford has an uncanny ability to put the reader in the thick of the scenes. I could hear the boys talking to each other, could see the world as they did, from baseball games in the alley to a homemade raft on the river. The imagery and characters are rich and vivid. Belford clearly did a lot of research, because the setting feels genuine, from Billy’s dad suffering PTSD from WWI to the “spy” boarder, the White Sox game to the bubbly creek. This would be a great candidate for required reading lists for middle-graders, IMO.

  • Praise for ANOTHER D FOR DEEDEE

    • KIRKUS REVIEW A chatty fourth-grader named DeeDee is eager to make friends at her new school, but first she must learn what loyalty means. Bombarded by problems at home, DeeDee encounters more stress in one year than many people confront in a lifetime. Her trailer burns down, which means her family must move again. Her father has left to visit a relative in Mexico and hasn’t come back. She is behind in her school work and struggles to keep up with the help of a special teacher. Watched by older siblings while her mother struggles to earn a living, she eats too much junk food and develops diabetes. Readers will cheer for DeeDee even as she makes bad choices that reveal poor self-esteem: She denies being bilingual, acts embarrassed by a close friend with disabilities, and caves in to bullies because she wants to be part of the popular crowd. DeeDee disappoints herself and must seek encouragement to do what she knows is right, modeling growth. The novel is filled with important issues involving immigration and acceptance of those who are different, though DeeDee’s cheeky narrative voice (“Holy jalapeño”) provides a great deal of levity. Commendably, Belford isn’t afraid to show the cruelty and confusion children evince when their lives are not going as planned. A busy novel about the importance of compassion and learning to be true to one’s heart, with an endearing protagonist at its core. (Fiction. 8-12)

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