Exploring "Izzy Wong's Nose for News" by Marty Chan: A Review and Discussion Guide

Izzy Wong's Nose for News by Marty Chan

Publisher: Orca Books

Expected publication date: Tuesday, September 17, 2024

Genres: Children’s Fiction with bits of mystery

Age Recommended: 9+

Date Started: May 24, 2024   Date Finished: May 28, 2024

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and author for an E-ARC of this book to read in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Synopsis:

Marty Chan's children's fiction novel, Izzy Wong's Nose for News, combines mystery, school life, podcasting, family, and other themes. Izzy Wong is deeply interested in the news around her elementary school, and she finds the ideal subject for her debut podcast when the girl's bathroom on the third floor of her school floods. With mystery surrounding how the flooding happened, who done it, and why along with the effects of it Izzy Wong sets out to research, report, and find out the truth for her podcast, school, and herself. Readers can discover and study alongside Izzy Wong the process of creating a podcast, the ins and outs of journalism, the distinction between news and gossip, truth, and speculation, and how empathy, dedicated work, and determination may pay off in the end.

Review:

The cover is well-crafted and captures the essence of the story. I enjoyed the podcast headers and chapter titles at the beginning of each chapter since they added a unique flair while also making readers feel like they were conducting the podcast with Izzy. The novel is packed with humor that both young and adult readers will enjoy while reading. The allusions made by Izzy and the other characters in the narrative are realistic, easy to understand, and useful in picturing scenarios, locations, and characters. The writing is vivid, amusing, and realistic, making it and the novel overall simple to read, comprehend, visualize, and enjoy. From Izzy to Doyle, all of the characters saw excellent character growth. The plot was established at a wonderful, medium pace, allowing for tension and mystery while remaining easy to read. The storyline development was excellent, and the story will undoubtedly be engaging and educational for readers. The author does an excellent job of tackling and dealing with a variety of problems, including but not limited to bullying, gossip, reporting, school issues, friendship struggles, and understanding the difference between telling a story and making one up. The book is full of wonderful learning opportunities for both young and older readers, such as learning the difference between what is considered the truth and what is gossip, the importance of open and honest communication between people, the right and wrong ways to deal with bullying in school, and finally, finding something that brings you joy, as podcasting and reporting the news do for Izzy and her mother.

One minor drawback for me was that Izzy and some of the other students appeared to be older than their age and in 8th grade rather than 6th grade because of how they acted, the gossip that circulated throughout the school, and the way they spoke at times. However, I think this provides insight into how grown-up or older kids can feel, act, and speak beyond their age, as well as how one should never judge a book or person by their age or appearance. It was a bit tricky at times to tell when Izzy was recording for an interview and when she stopped recording. I think placing a start play button icon when she starts recording and subsequently a stop or pause recording icon when she quits recording would enhance the book and stop any potential confusion on this topic.

Izzy Wong's Nose for News by Marty Chan is a fantastic story that would be ideal for children aged 9 and up, as well as adults interested in reading a book about podcasting, reporting a story, school issues, realistic and humorous characters, as well as a touch of mystery and suspense mixed with fiction.

Discussion Questions for Izzy Wong's Nose for News by Marty Chan

1.      Was the book a “thumbs up” or a “thumbs down” for you?

2.      What do you think about the book’s cover?

3.      Was there a specific scene that you liked?

a.      Which part(s) of the book caught your attention the most?

4.      What did you enjoy about this book?

5.       What did you dislike about the book?

6.      What are some of the ways one can report or write a story?

7.      The book depicts podcasting. What are some topics you would talk about if you had a podcast like Izzy?

8.      Based on the reading, what are some of the ways kids can deal with bullying?

9.      After reading the book, what are some of the things you learned about journalism?

10.  After reading the book, describe or draw some things for a newspaper or book cover related to podcasting, journalism, or school.