Influence by Sara Shepard - OPTIONAL

Influence by Sara Shepard, 361 pages. Delacorte Press, 2021. $18. 

Content: Language: PG-13 (42 swears); Mature Content: PG-13; Violence: PG. 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS – OPTIONAL  

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE  

Four teenage girls are immersed in the world of social media influencing and their paths cross. Delilah is new to L.A. and wants to get in on the influencing scene, but at one of her first big events she falls for fellow influencer Scarlet’s beau.  Jasmine feels pigeon-holed in a role that started when she was a child star, and she doesn’t feel like she can be her real self.  Fiona has many anxieties, mostly stemming from an accident that Fiona feels responsible for and it left a girl dead. And the queen bee, Scarlet, seems to have the biggest secret of all but each of the other influencers are afraid Scarlet’s secret is about their secret.  When their whole life is on display for thousands, there tends to be secrets about who these girls really are, and those secrets start to leak out leading to the death of one of the girls.  

I really enjoyed Sara Shepard’s series, The Amateurs, so I was excited to read this book.  I liked the way that the possible suspects were set up and the storyline had a few twists that were fun and unexpected.  The characters weren’t relatable, and it has a superficial feel throughout. If the world of influencers is interesting to your readers, then they will fall into this story, otherwise it was a quick, shallow mystery.  The content includes underage drinking, teen pregnancy and an undescriptive murder. 

Reviewer, C. Peterson

Tigers, Not Daughters by Samantha Mabry - OPTIONAL

Tigers, Not Daughters by Samantha Mabry, 277 pages. CENTERING ME. Algonquin Young Readers (Algonquin Books), 2020. $11.

Language: R (31 swears, 39 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Ana and her sisters planned to run away together -- they almost made it once -- but Ana’s death changed her sisters. Without their leader, Jessica, Iridian, and Rosa have retreated into new roles and parts to play in the house they are stuck in. But Ana doesn’t want her sisters to continue this way, and it’s up to the sisters to work together and figure out what Ana’s ghost wants for them.

Grief is difficult and different for everyone; Ana’s three sisters cope by retreating into themselves and playing the roles they perceived necessary. They struggle as individuals and then learn to rise together through both the weight of their sister’s death and their individual challenges. Mabry has written a story that feels significant. I can imagine English teachers asking their students to analyze what’s going on in this book, but I feel like I missed it. Something more is going on; the climax had more power than I understood. Maybe I’ll have to read it again to figure it out. The mature content rating is for underage drinking, groping, partial nudity, and mentions of sex. The violence rating is for mentions of death and suicide and for blood.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Sing Me Forgotten by Jessica S. Olson - ADVISABLE

Sing Me Forgotten by Jessica S. Olson, 336 pages. Inkyard Press, 2021. $20.

Language: PG (7 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG13

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - OPTIONAL, HS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

17yo Isda lives in the shadows because she has to, but she also thrives in the background of the opera house she calls home. If she steps into the spotlight she longs for, Isda’s magical abilities would become known and execution would soon follow. However, her music and the only father she has ever known is too small of a world for Isda once she hears Emeric sing. Expanding her world to include this stranger is a risk, but Isda is willing to take it.

As is common in books, readers drop into the story moments before a catalyst for change appears in Isda’s world and she chooses to invite that change into her life. With Isda still discovering the directions her new choices can take her, her character felt erratic. Isda was warring with herself, which made her character seem inconsistent and hard for me to connect with. Once Isda embraced her change, I had an easier time enjoying the story through to its amazing end. The way Olson chose to end the story is one of my top three favorite things about Sing Me Forgotten, with another being how the magic is tied up in music. Music is powerful and vulnerable, and I love how Olson has taken the real enchantment of music and broadened it for Isda’s story.  The violence rating is for blood, gun use, and murder.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Frozen 2: Dangerous Secrets by Mari Mancusi - ADVISABLE

Frozen 2: Dangerous Secrets: The Story of Iduna and Agnarr by Mari Mancusi, 338 pages. Disney Press (Buena Vista Books), 2020. $15.

Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

The day was supposed to be about peace and a new alliance; instead, a battle rose up and separated loved ones. Amidst the confusion, Iduna saved Agnarr, the crown prince of Arendelle, but she is a Northuldra and must keep her identity a secret to stay in Arendelle. Secrets start to build on each other  and are kept for good intentions, but what if they start to be harmful?

Learning the story of Elsa and Anna’s parents charmed me. I loved reading the pieces that I knew would influence their family in ways Iduna and Agnarr didn’t know about yet and puzzling over other parts of the story that I couldn’t see fitting together in the moment. More than that, though, I am relieved that Mancusi expanded the beautiful familial love story that is so prevalent in Frozen and explained the choices that Elsa and Anna’s parents made in a way that is understandable. Disney fans do not yet know how much they need this book to love the royal family of Arendelle even more deeply.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen 

Displacement by Kiku Hughes - ADVISABLE

Displacement by Kiku Hughes, 280 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL First Second, 2020. $18.

 

Language: PG (2 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: PG (kissing) Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Her first displacement happened while 16yo Kiku and her mom were visiting San Francisco. Suddenly fog rolled in and Kiku was looking at the street her grandmother lived on in 1936, and there was a violin recital . . . but it only lasted a few minutes and Kiku was back. But it happened again. Even after returning home to Seattle, she was still displaced - time and place traveling to witness her grandmother's story firsthand. Kiku is sent to Tanforan incarceration camp, living near but not with her grandmother's family. Housed with another single woman, Kiku experiences the hardships of the camp and after 6 months she is moved to Topaz in Delta, Utah, where she attends school and is faced with the same questions and fears as other Japanese living in Topaz. 

I liked how Hughes accounts for the loss of Japanese culture in her generation, and the connections she makes to the current political climate. Very similar to "They Called us Enemy" by George Takai, I like that the interior illustrations were in full color - kids will be more likely to pick this up, but it lacks the power of personal experience brought by Takai for his graphic novel. I struggled with the time travel element as well, it just didn't work for me.

Lisa Librarian

Like Home by Louisa Onomé - AVERAGE

Like Home by Louisa Onomé, 400 pages. Delacorte Press, 2021. $18

Language: R (100+ swears, 35 “f”); Mature Content: PG-13 (mentions drugs, underage drinking, and condoms); Violence: PG-13 (gang violence, vandalism)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Chinelo aka Nelo used to have a group of friends who did everything together but that all changed when a kid was killed at the arcade. Nelo’s friends began moving away from Ginger East to “safer” neighborhoods and now it’s just her and her best friend Kate. Kate’s family owns the corner store in Ginger East, but one night a brick gets thrown at the store window. Nelo is determined to find out who vandalized the store so that Kate and her family won’t move away from Ginger East. Nelo and Kate seem to be growing apart during this difficult time. Will this be the end of their friendship or can Nelo find a way to keep Kate’s family from moving away while keeping their friendship intact? 

Louisa Onomé’s debut, coming-of-age novel was a great read. Nelo’s character is strong and passionate, yet not too stubborn or immature. She shows that anyone can make a difference in their community, no matter their age. This book is a pretty quick read even though it is 400 pages, and I found myself not wanting to put it down. I became invested in the story early on and wanted to know what happened to Ginger Store. There is also a great twist at the end that I never saw coming. 

Reviewer: Tara McP., SLP 

Night Shine by Tessa Gratton - OPTIONAL

Night Shine by Tessa Gratton, 390 pages. Margaret K. McElderberry Books, 2020. $19.99. 

Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG-13 (vague references to sex); Violence: R (fairly graphic fantasy violence) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

An orphan girl named Nothing only wanted to be around her true friend, Prince Kirin, but when he is kidnapped by the Sorceress Who Eats Girls, it is up to her and the prince’s bodyguard to save him. However, once they track him down to the sorceress’ stronghold in the Fifth Mountain, Nothing slowly starts to realize that she is much more powerful than anybody ever assumed. 

 If you can get beyond the fact that Nothing is the main character’s name, you will find an interesting Asian-flavored fantasy quest story, the heart of which focuses on gender-fluidity, transgender identity, and personal identity. Nothing has spent her whole life focused on Kirin, so when she was separated from him, she was forced to come to terms with who and what she really is. The Asian elements are a bit clumsy (the cover character doesn’t even really look Asian); they add flavor, but no meaning. The world-building is only acceptable, some bones, but no meat. Gratton has written much better books than this. 

Reviewer: BookswithBeddes 

The Captive Kingdom by Jennifer A. Nielsen - OPTIONAL

The Captive Kingdom (Ascendance # 4) by Jennifer A. Nielsen, 384 pages. Scholastic, 2020, $18. 

Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content PG; Violence: PG-13 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS – OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Jaron is back as the Ascendant King. Jaron is 16 years old and King Eckbert has claimed victory in a war launched against Carthya. This book covers the missing year of Jaron’s life between books two and three. Jaron and Imogen are returning from a routine trading mission to Bymar as guests of Avenian pirates when their ship is brutally attacked by Prozarians. Jaron is taken hostage. Roden, Jaron’s captain of the guard, is coerced into serving the dangerous Captain Jane Strick. As Jaron tries to escape and save those close to him, he discovers that he is accused of terrible things in his past and that it could be possible that his older brother, Darius, is alive. Jaron must use all of his skill, planning, and cunning to save his friends and his kingdom. 

 Though I loved The False Prince, and Jaron’s character, there is a lot going on. Jaron is like a master chess player and it almost seems implausible that he could figure out how all the moving pieces of intrigue and people would work out, especially since he has a hard time sharing his ideas. Jaron’s strengths become the book’s weakness. By the fourth book, readers will be expecting plot twists and Jaron’s cleverness, and the constant action and power struggles become almost tiresome, especially with the brutality involved. How many times can someone be betrayed and still want a throne? But die-hard fans will probably enjoy the nonstop action and twists. 

Michelle in the Middle 

Daughter of the White Rose by Diane Zahler - ADVISABLE

Daughter of the White Rose by Diane Zahler, 246 pages. Holiday House, 2021. $19

Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content PG; Violence: PG 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS – ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Twelve-year old Nell is born the same day as Prince Edward, heir to the throne of England. Nell’s father, a butcher, provides meat to the exiled queen, during her time of confinement and subsequently, Nell grows up with Edward. Nell intermingles with the royal family and is caught between two worlds, not quite fitting in with either. Nell’s days of feasts, watching dances, and archery practice end quickly when Edward’s father dies suddenly and rather suspiciously. Prince Edward and his little brother are imprisoned in the Tower of London by their power-hungry uncle, Richard III, who crowns himself king. Nell becomes imprisoned with them and it could be her bravery that ends up rescuing them. 

 This period of history comes alive through Nell’s voice. Historically accurate descriptions made me feel like I was stepping into the 15th century without being irritated by wordy explanations. The characters are relatable and believable and I found myself rooting for Nell and the royals, making Richard’s power grab even more reprehensible. There is a timeline at the back of actual events. Engrossing and informative. 

 Michelle in the Middle 

This is How We Fly by Ana Merino - OPTIONAL

This is How We Fly by Ana Merino, 461 pages. CHAPTER BOOK. Philomel Books (Penguin), 2020. $ 19. 

Language: R (7 swears, 4 “f”); Mature Content: PG-13 (non-descript ‘bedroom’ scene); Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Ellen plans to spend every last moment of summer with her two best friends before they each head to different colleges in Texas. When Ellen is grounded for the entire summer by her seemingly evil stepmother, all her plans are crushed. Ellen and one of her BFFs, Melissa, convince her parents to let her join the local Quidditch team. An all-gender, full-contact game, although Quidditch isn't quite what Ellen expected... There's no flying, no magic... just a bunch of 'kids' holding PVC pipe between their legs and throwing dodgeballs. Ellen, who has never liked sports, is thrown into a very different world; her life is all practices, training, and running with a group of Harry Potter fans. When not at Quidditch, Ellen is tasked with chores and cleaning out the overfull garage and wonders if things with her dad and step-mother would be easier if she was a boy and not such a feminist. Overall, Ellen learns that she needs to stick up for herself and the things she wants. 

I really liked this, it was a cute “coming of age” story that I think many would relate to. The story focuses on Ellen and how she is so passionate about being a feminist and trying to keep her family from fighting. It also dealt a lot with self-identity and sexuality. 

Reviewer: Jenn J. 

The Girl from Shadow Springs by Ellie Cypher - OPTIONAL

The Girl from Shadow Springs by Ellie Cypher, 311 pages. Simon & Schuster, 2021. $20 

Language: PG (5 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG-13 (“bears balls”, “beaver’s ass”); Violence PG-13 (kidnapping, beatings, physical fighting, bleeding, use of guns and knives). 

 BUYING ADVISORY: HS – OPTIONAL 

 AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW 

 Jorie and her sister, Brenna, live in Shadow Springs on the edge of the Ice Flats. This part of the world has not seen a true spring in a generation and the weather is getting worse every year. Jorie makes a meager living for the two of them by scavenging off the dead bodies of those who are lured here to seek a legendary lost city and its treasures. One day Jorie takes the possessions of a dead man only to discover that someone thinks Jorie now has something valuable from the dead man. This desperate man takes Brenna as hostage. To get her beloved sister back, Jorie must bring the missing item to this man where he has taken Brenna – across the Flats. Jorie doesn’t even know what object the man wants, but she is determined to get her sister back. She reluctantly accepts help from the dead man’s nephew, Cody. Together the two of them face the deadly dangers of the Flats, outlaws, and supernatural forces as they try to bring Brenna home. 

The heroine was plucky and determined, but difficult to like through much of the book. Cold weather, continuous setbacks, and vicious opponents were unrelenting, making the book very tiring to read. The chosen use of “were” instead of “was” gave Jorie the feel of a girl without formal schooling, but it was inconsistently applied over the course of the book, so it was confusing. There were a number of plot holes, such as how people (and animals) in this part of the world make enough money/get enough food if there hadn’t been a spring in a generation? The supernatural aspect was resolved well in the end, but that was about the only satisfaction. 

 Reviewer: Shelly R 

A Secret Service by Joy Jenkins - ESSENTIAL

A Secret Service by Joy Jenkins, 399 pages. Girl Power Galaxy, 2019. 

 Language: G(0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (some fighting, tranquilizer guns) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

 As the daughter of a Secret Service agent, a single parent, 18yo Carter has been raised with all the skills she needs to survive a Taken-like situation. Her bluntness and ferocity hasn’t made her any friends at her private school. When her school takes in a hundred displaced students from another school, two in particular, Link and Donovan, catch her eye, because her very bones know that the pair are hiding something – something big. A she tries to keep them at arm’s length, they keep getting under her guard. When she learns their secret, it really is a big one, and she realizes that their lives are in danger 0 but more importantly, so is Carter’s heart. 

Whew! I don’t know why this hasn’t been picked up by a major publisher – so good! In the acknowledgements Jenkins mentions that she is a Gallagher Girl – and Carter (the heroine) very much is. The build-up to the final confrontation is slow, but makes for great reading about relationship dynamics, giving a satisfying spy novel and a realistic romance, which takes 2nd place like it should. My only beef is the cover – I kept thinking this was historical fiction, not the modern novel this is; the cover is dull and doesn’t hint at any of the excitement and danger lurking within. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

Kamala Harris: Madam Vice President by Heather E. Schwartz - ADVISABLE

Kamala Harris: Madam Vice President by Heather E. Schwartz, 48 pages. BIOGRAPHY Lerner, 2021. $32.

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Kamala Harris is always fighting for what is right. In fact, when she was in middle school she organized a protest to get her apartment managers to let the children play in the front yard. Her dream to become a lawyer was realized and by 1989 she was working as a deputy district attorney. In 2010 she was elected California Attorney general, by 2016 she was a US senator, and in 2020 ran with Joe Biden on the Democratic Ticket for President/Vice President of the United States. 

Heather Schwartz is a gifted writer for young readers. Although this is a short biography the Vice President's life and passions have been presented concisely and without political drama. Includes a timeline, lots of photographs and source material.

Lisa Librarian

Joe Biden: From Scranton to the White House by Heather E. Schwartz - ADVISABLE

Joe Biden: From Scranton to the White House by Heather E. Schwartz, 48 pages. BIOGRAPHY Lerner 2021 $32. 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

This short biography briefly covers Joe Biden's childhood and college years, and his rise from law student to elected official, US Senator, Vice President, and now 46th President of the United States. We learn about his struggles, losing his wife and daughter in a car accident, political successes and challenges, and his health concerns. It does not cover his time in the White House. 

A well put together biography, with full color photographs, a timeline of important dates and source material. I loved how thorough it feels while still being appropriate in length and readability for an upper elementary or middle school student. A great beginning source as a spring board for a longer project, or  as a quick read to find out about this president.

Lisa Librarian  

The COVID-19 Pandemic: A Coronavirus Timeline by Matt Doeden - ADVISABLE

The COVID-19 Pandemic: A Coronavirus Timeline by Matt Doeden, 48 pages. NON-FICTION Lerner, 2021. $32 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

In 2019, when a mysterious illness was discovered in Wuhan, China, no one could have imagined that in only a few months a Global Pandemic would change everything, shutting down schools, businesses, restaurants and life as we knew it. With doctors and scientists learning how to treat patients and looking for a vaccine, governors and politicians stepped in to try to control the spread. 

From the 1st cases in Wuhan, to toying with the possibility of a quickly developed vaccine, Matt Doeden has given us a well developed timeline, perfect for young readers. Mostly narrative non-fiction, with a few side bars spotlighting individuals and their contributions, politics are put aside, for the most part, with a mention of the protests surrounding George Floyd as an event people felt strongly about attending despite their concerns with the pandemic. It's hard to feel like a book published so quickly is complete, however, it's well written with photographs throughout, with a timeline and source notes. I'm excited to see the response from my middle schoolers - this is actual history they experienced.

Lisa Librarian

Black Lives Matter: From Hashtag to the Streets by Dr. Artika R. Tyner - ADVISABLE

Black Lives Matter: From Hashtag to the Streets by Dr. Artika R. Tyner, 27 pages. NON-FICTION. Lerner, 2021. $25 (library binding). 9781728429564 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Tyner gives us an introduction to the recent #BlackLivesMatter movement and puts it into context of the Civil Rights Movement and the 2020 summer protests. 

A reasonable, if somewhat shallow, introduction to #BlackLivesMatter. Hopefully there will be future works for young readers that dive a bit deeper on the subject. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

Rural Voices by Nora Shalaway Carpenter - HIGH

Rural Voices: 15 Authors Challenge Assumptions About Small-town America by Nora Shalaway Carpenter, 300 pages. CENTERING ME, SHORT STORIES. Candlewick Press, 2020. $14.

Language: R (64 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

In 16 stories, these 15 authors invite readers to see small-town America in new ways. If we are going to overcome these little-acknowledged prejudices, we first need to recognize the problem. Experience these different lives through novel, memoir, poem, and graphic novel formats.

I love the perspective changes these stories have invited into my life, even though I didn’t love all the stories. Each author takes readers through a unique journey in the life of small towns all over America, and I was surprised to see more than just the South -- I didn’t even realize that image of small-towns being mostly southern was part of my thoughts. The mature content rating is for innuendo, mention of masturbation and pornography, groping, and drug use.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Rock by Rock by Jennifer Bradbury and Sam Broughton - ADVISABLE

 Rock by Rock: The Fantastical Garden of Nek Chand by Jennifer Bradbury, illustrated by Sam Broughton. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Atheneum (Simon), 2021. $18. 9781481481823 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Nek Chand was displaced when India and Pakistan were divided. He relocated to Chandigarh, got a job, and got married. But he still missed his jungles. After work he disappears into the jungles around his city, brings rocks, cement, and discarded bits with him, eventually creating a wonder of tunnels, figures, animals, walls. When the city discovers his garden, some want to tear it down. But many people take a stand to support him. Even though Chand is gone, his wonders still remain for the whole world to enjoy. 

If you want to read more about Nek Chand, you can read the novel Bradbury wrote and another picture book by Barb Rosenstock. It will fuel dreams of trips to India to see the wonders for yourself. Broughton’s illustrations enhance the magic. For classroom support, there a lot of photos of Chand’s work available online – it is a major tourist site. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS  

Sia Martinez and the Moonlit Beginning of Everything by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland - NO

Sia Martinez and the Moonlit Beginning of Everything by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland, 432 pages. Simon Pulse (Simon and Schuster), 2020. $19 

Language: R (100+ swears 69 'f'); Mature Content: R (on-page sex); Violence: PG13 (sexual assault, racist dialogue, sexual name calling) 

BUYING ADVISORY: NOT RECOMMENDED 

Sia Martinez mom disappeared in the Sonora Desert trying to return from Mexico after being deported. It's been 3 years and with no word from her, she's assumed dead. Sia blames the town sheriff for profiling and turning her over to ICE, but she's holding out a glimmer of hope and continues to light candles in the desert to "guide her way." When a new boy at school shows up in the same special place in the desert (between two seguaros Sia calls Adam and Eve) they start up an unlikely friendship which quickly becomes intimate. But they aren't the only ones to visit their spot - unexplained lights and a possible UFO crash brings back more than just memories for Sia. 

Too many layers, PTSD from her assault, her mother's death, the sheriff's son's bullying, racism, immigration issues, her friend's ultra religious father, aliens, conspiracy theories - and so much more. With so much going on, nothing was well developed. It was science fiction, coming of age, and magical realism story, and too mature for a school library.

Lisa Librarian

Black Voter Suppression by Dr. Artika R. Tyner - ADVISABLE

Black Voter Suppression: The Fight for the Right to Vote by Dr. Artika R. Tyner, 27 pages. NON-FICTION. Lerner, 20201. $10 (paperback). 9781728429663 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Tyner explores a few of the ways that cities and states have worked to limit marginalized voters’ ability to actually vote and lightly touches on the reasons why they would do so. It also talks about ways that Blacks and others have worked around and actively lobbied for those very rights. 

A decent beginner level treatment of the topic. A good way to get the idea of voter suppression into students’ hand, but the subject deserves many more pages. I hope that someone comes out with a good 96 pages on the topic. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

Breaking the Ice by Angie Bullaro and C.F. Payne - ESSENTIAL

 Breaking the Ice: The true story of the first woman to play in the National Hockey League by Angie Bullaro, illustrated by C.F. Payne. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Simon & Shuster, 2021. $19. 9781534425576 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

5yo Manon loved playing goalie for her older brothers as they practiced hockey in their backyard. When her dad’s peewee team needed a goalie, Manon stepped in and proved she could do it. Her hockey skills and her tenacity led her to become the first, and so far the only, women to ever play a game on a men’s major sports league in North America. 

An inspiring story and a necessary addition to any library collection. Great for Women’s studies or those rare occasions when you can get a PE teacher to read to their classes. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

Controversial Monuments by Amanda Jackson Green - ADVISABLE

Controversial Monuments: The Fight Over Statues and Symbols by Amanda Jackson Green, 29 pages. NON-FICTION. Lerner, 2021. $26 (library binding) 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Green cuts to the heart of the fight between those who want to keep Confederate statues up around the United States and those who are working to take them down. She looks at the roots of the statues, including their purpose and moves to the modern day Black Lives Matter activism. 

A well-written if simple look at the issue. Accessible to elementary or middle school, though not enough depth for research, except as a single source among several. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

Billie Eilish: The Rise of a Superstar by Heather E. Schwartz - ADVISABLE

Billie Eilish: The Rise of a Superstar by Heather E. Schwartz, 39 pages. Lerner, 2021. 9781728404493 

Content: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

At 15yo, Billie Eilish became an overnight sensation. Since then she has released an EP and an album, and written a title song for a James Bond movie. 

For fans who just want a little bit of info, this is a good, light bio – just the highlights. I would suggest the unofficial biography from Adrian Besley if you have someone who wants more depth and details. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

Allergic by Megan Wagner Lloyd and Michelle Mee Nutter - HIGH

Allergic by Megan Wagner Lloyd and Michelle Mee Nutter, 240 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. Scholastic, 2021. $13. 

Content G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS – ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Maggie is looking for a place to belong. Her parents are expecting a new baby and her brothers have each other. Maggie desperately wants a pet, and is so excited to pick out a puppy on her tenth birthday. Maggie sadly discovers she is wildly allergic to anything with fur. Not only does she not get a pet, but she also has to undergo a series of shots that will help determine what she is and is not allergic to. 

 Similar to Guts and Smile, this book will help kids who are dealing with a difficult situation. Sometimes severe allergies can get in the way of friendships and make kids feel self-conscious. Colorful graphics make this book accessible and fun as it teaches empathy and coping. 

 Michelle in the Middle 

A Hopeful Heart by Deborah Noyes - OPTIONAL

A Hopeful Heart: Louisa May Alcott Before Little Women by Deborah Noyes, 267 pages. BIOGRAPHY. Schwartz and Wade Books, 2020. $ 19

Language: G (0swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: G ; Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS – OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW 

Louisa May Alcott grew up the daughter of a transcendentalist father, Bronson Alcott. Among her father’s many friends such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and Nathaniel Hawthorne, Louisa learned to love the world of thought and writing. She spent most of her life in poverty due to her father’s lack of financial motivations. She tired being a teacher to bring in money for the family, but her heart was set on earning her living from writing. 

Although Deborah Noyes used many delightful quotes from the life of Louis May Alcott, her writing of the story is tedious and insipid for the most part. The story takes on a blandness and the book trod from year to year through her life. I did enjoy learning that she felt romantically inclined towards a few men, including a European “romance”. I also thought it interesting how she came about writing “Little Women”, which is still classed as a number one book for young women and ranks with Harry Potter. 

Reviewer: MOMMAC 

The ABC’s of Black History by Rio Cortez and Lauren Semmer - ESSENTIAL

The ABC’s of Black History by Rio Cortez, illustrated by Lauren Semmer. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Workman, 2020. $15. 9781523507498 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS, HS - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Cortez and Semmer collaborate to create an exuberant abecedarian of words especially important to Black lives – places, people, ideas, truths. 

The eye-catching full color illustrations compliment the bouncing rhymes and rhythms. The back matter delves into a bit of detail of each word. I would definitely buy multiple copies and make a teaching kit for a mini class project at any grade. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS  

American as Paneer Pie by Supriya Kelkar - ADVISABLE

American as Paneer Pie by Supriya Kelkar, 311 pages. Simon and Schuster 2020 $18.00 

Language: G. Mature Content: G. Violence: PG. 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

11yo Lekha is American, she's one of the strongest swimmers on her relay team, but she hates the bindi size freckle on her forehead, she doesn't like the way her classmates make fun of the food she brings for lunch, and she's never had a "sleepover friend." Noah lives next door, and they are best friends, but Lekha hopes that a girl moves into the neighborhood. Then, right across the street, Avantica moves in, not only a girl, but an Indian girl! Finally, a friend who understands her. But, it seems Avantica is everything Lekha is not: Avantica stands up to the bullies who tease her, she's proud of her Indian heritage, and she's brave. But when Lekha is confronted by a racist message directed at her family, she needs to decide if she is strong enough to speak up for what is right.

I loved all the cultural aspects of this story, Lekha's family dynamics are great, her parents, both immigrants from India, have differing perspectives on being American. Lekha both learns from Avantica about accepting her own culture around her school friends, while she teaches Avantica how to fit in at school. Political issues bring the town into the story as an election outcome changes attitudes about immigrants. Much of the drama with her girlfriends was so typical for middle school, trying to fit in with the popular crowd while still staying true to herself. The descriptions of racial violence were difficult to read, not because they were graphic but because they happened.

Lisa Librarian  

Farmers Unite!: Planting a Protest For Fair Prices by Lindsay H. Metcalf - ADVISABLE

Farmers Unite!: Planting a Protest For Fair Prices by Lindsay H. Metcalf, 64 pages NON-FICTION Calkins Creek (Boyds Mills), 2020. $19. 9781684379088 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

In 1978, American farmers were desperate. It was costing them more to grow their crops than they were getting for their harvest. A lot more. They had appealed to the US government, but the Department of Agriculture seemed to be ignoring the farmers. So, they started with a protest in Plains Georgia (home of the current president Jimmy Carter) and brought thousands of tractors to town, hoping to get their cause noticed. Two weeks later an organized effort did the same to state capitals around the country. By February, the tractor parade came to DC. Clogging the streets and causing enough traffic trouble to, hopefully, force the DofA to listen to their concerns. 

I loved the captioned photographs, and the succinct text on every page. Plenty of additional information including an author's note, statistics, a timeline and source notes. A fascinating look at a peaceful protest - change didn't happen right away, but they did finally get noticed. Showing this to my social studies teachers.

Lisa Librarian

Billie Eilish: The Unofficial Biography by Adrian Besley - ESSENTIAL

Billie Eilish: The Unofficial Biography by Adrian Besley, 211 pages. Zest Books, 2021. $15. 9781728424163 

Content: G 

 BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

One day Bilie was a teenager posting music on Soundcloud for friends to listen to – then almost overnight she was receiving a lot of attention, finding an agent. And landing a recording contract. Now she is known all over the world. 

Besley’s breezy style makes this a fun, quick read, even though it is filled with all kinds of details about pre-fame Billie and post-fame Billie and her performing partner/brother Finneas. Definitely the best book for a fan. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS https://amzn.to/3ekuWJ7

Go the Distance by Jen Calonita - ADVISABLE

 

Go the Distance (A Twisted Tale) by Jen Calonita, 329 pages. Disney Hyperion, 2021. $18. 

Content: Language: PG (1 swear); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG. 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS – ADVISABLE  

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Meg and Hercules are in front of Zeus and Hara and Hercules has gained his godhood.  Hercules tries to remain a human because he loves Meg, but Zeus refuses to let Hercules give up his godhood, so Hara provides Meg a way to become a god-by going on a quest.  Meg embarks on a quest that will make her re-exam her life and her relationships with the help of Pegasus and a satyr named Phil. 

Hercules is an okay enough story, and I can’t say I was overly interested in Meg as a character, but I got into her story.  Meg was a great heroine, and her backstory was heartbreaking and made her an easy character to empathize with. Sometimes quest stories can seem all about the setting, or the plot moving from point A to B, and this is a quest story but was fully developed throughout with a character who was learning to forgive, grow and embrace her possibility. I enjoy the Twisted Tale series and Calonita’s other books, and this book didn’t disappoint.  

Reviewer, C. Peterson 

The Ickabog by J.K. Rowling - OPTIONAL

The Ickabog by J.K. Rowling, 274 pages. Scholastic, 2020. $27. 

Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content PG; Violence: PG 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

In the happy kingdom of Cornucopia, all was well until a monster known as the Ickabog was reportedly seen. According to myth, the monster is as tall as two horses with eyes like glowing balls of fire, and long razor-sharp claws. Some believe in the Ickabog and some don’t, but fear of the monster changes the kingdom in horrible ways. Two children try to unravel the truth behind the Ickabog to help their country. 

 I am just not sure who the audience is for this book. It’s written like a bedtime story, and I wanted to like it. However, it is fairly horrifying, unless you are immune to murder and child abuse. Children’s parents are murdered or dragged off to prison and citizens are forced to do awful things or lose loved ones, even though the citizens may be killed anyway because they know too much. Children are abused and dying of starvation in an orphanage. The ending doesn’t make up for all the broken lives along the way. Even though it is told in a fairytale sort of format, I think it would give little children nightmares and older children would find it too childish. There are illustrations made by children from an illustration competition, which was a nice touch. I miss the charm and humor of the Harry Potter books. 

 Michelle in the Middle  

Space Encyclopedia: A Tour of our Solar System and Beyond by David A. Aguilar - ADVISABLE

 

Space Encyclopedia: A Tour of our Solar System and Beyond by David A. Aguilar.  NON-FICTION. National Geographic, 2020. $25. Content: G. 

BUYING ADVIOSRY: EL, MS – ADVISABLE  

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE  

This fact-filled space encyclopedia is broken up into different sections about exploring the universe. It includes information about geniuses who have helped discover space, important facts, interesting predictions, and funny jokes.  We learn about space equipment and how the planets got discovered and why they are uninhabitable.  

Throughout this encyclopedia, the reader is left with wonder and awe about the universe. As a lover of space, I read this book cover to cover. It is filled with amazing artwork that looks like pictures. It fed the wonder and curiosity in me and was a satisfying read, but there is always more to learn about space. 

Reviewer, Logan, age 12

The Middle Passage White Ships/Black Cargo by Tom Feeling - ESSENTIAL

The Middle Passage White Ships/Black Cargo by Tom Feeling. PICTURE BOOK. Dial Books, 2018. $30. 9780525552444

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS – ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

The Middle Passage provides an education through both information and illustration to bring a better understanding about the horrors of slavery. Attention is given in specific detail to the journey that brought slaves to the New World highlighting the grievous suffering of so many. 

The story begins with a dense few pages of information to educate the reader about the Middle Passage. This is then followed by 64 exquisite and excruciating illustrations about the journey. Teachers would benefit from devising how to include this book in their curriculum in order to help students have a more thorough understanding of this part of history. 

AEB

The Sisters of Straygarden Place by Hayley Chewins - HIGH

 The Sisters of Straygarden Place by Hayley Chewins, 200 pages. Candlewick Press, 2020. $17. 

Content G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS – ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Three sisters grow up in a magical house that takes care of them and clothes and feeds them. They are alone there after their parents left them seven years ago. They have one big warning and that they cannot go out into the tall silver grass and floating trees that surround the house. One day, the eldest, 14yo Winnow does and even though her middle sister, Mayhap, tries to keep the sisters together, there is something mysterious and dangerous going on in the house. Mayhap has to try and unravel the mystery before they get sick and turn to silver. 

 Poetically written, this book draws the reader in to a magical but sinister setting. Mayhap will have you rooting for her as she tries to find answers while racing to outwit the house. The prose makes the otherworldly seem real, and once you start you will have to finish. 

Michelle in the Middle 

All This Time by Mikki Daughtry and Rachael Lippincott - HIGH

All This Time by Mikki Daughtry and Rachael Lippincott, 325 pages. Simon & Schuster, 2020. $19. 

Language: R (113 swears, 26 “f”); Mature Content PG-13; Violence: PG 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS – OPTIONAL 

 AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

 Kyle and Kimberly are graduating high school. They have been the perfect couple for years: he the football hero and she the cheerleader. Kyle is excited to give Kimberly a custom-made bracelet on the night of their graduation party, to seal their relationship, but Kimberly has other ideas that don’t involve Kyle. Things go south pretty quickly, and following a car crash, Kyle wakes up in the hospital with a severe brain injury and Kimberly is dead. Kyle is understandably despondent until he meets Marley, who is dealing with her own loss, one she believes she caused. Grief brings the two together, and it seems that Kyle can finally pull himself together. Kyle’s new relationship seems almost too good to be true and it just might be. 

The authors have done a good job creating doubts about Kyle’s thinking, especially with the brain injury. I found myself changing my predictions and then reading to find out if I was right or not. Sex is implied but not on page. The tone ends up being just the right amount of sweet balanced with the traumatic. If you want a fresh and captivating romance with a touch of mystery, this one’s for you. 

 Michelle in the Middle 

Amelia Unabridged by Ashley Schumacher - ADVISABLE

Amelia Unabridged by Ashley Schumacher, 304 pages. Wednesday Books (St. Martin’s Press), 2021. $19.

Language: PG13 (23 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

While her life has been far from perfect, 18-year-old Amelia has been happy -- in large part because of Jenna. Jenna is Amelia’s best friend who has planned out their lives perfectly. But then Jenna dies. Following a hope that is 60 percent whim, Amelia goes to Lochbrook to somehow get part of Jenna back, but happiness without Jenna is harder to grasp than it is to let go of.

Choosing to keep reading this book was difficult for me because I felt every blow that hit Amelia in the first few chapters, felt hope and happiness slipping from my grasp as I desperately reached for it to give back to her. To protect both Amelia and myself from more pain, I put down the book for weeks. I finally went back to Amelia’s story, praying that things might get better. Amelia’s journey took me with her step for step. There was more pain, but we found hope and dreams, too. Grief and loss never really go away, but we can move forward despite their weight that encourages stagnancy. Schumacher has crafted a story of hope for happiness even if our lives aren’t inherently happy. The mature content rating is for underage drinking.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

If We Were Giants by Dave Matthews and Clete Barrett Smith - ADVISABLE

 If We Were Giants by Dave Matthews and Clete Barrett Smith, 304 pages. Disney-Hyperion, 2020 $17. 

Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (fighting) 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

10yo Kirra lives a comfortable, safe life amongst family and friends, deep in the heart of a dormant volcano. Fires are kept burning at all hours to keep enemies away. Only Kirra and her father are allowed to leave the volcano and travel to nearby villages. Kirra's father is a Storyteller and captivates audiences with his fearsome tales to keep outsiders away from their land. One day Kirra can't contain her adventurous spirts and decides to leave the volcano on her own and do some investigating. Little does she know she ends up leading the Takers right back to the volcano where disaster strikes. Left with no family to call her own, Kirra eventually meets up with Luwan. His family adopts her and she finds herself living in a new village high in the trees. Determined to never let her past catch up with her, Kirra stays quiet and does not speak of her past life until Luwan is captured by the Takers and she has no choice but to speak up. Kirra discovers she is not alone and is surround by people who love and care about her, and actually need her to be their Storyteller. She soon crafts a tale and spins an adventure the village people will never forget. 

This is a compelling story of family, loss and resilience. Students will love diving into a new world deep inside of a volcano, then venturing high up to the tops of the trees for another. Matthews and Smith will have readers believing every aspect of this story and keep them coming back for more. The adventure and suspense with keep the pages turning complete with a bitter sweet ending. 

Jessica Nelson Librarian 

The True Definition of Neva Beane by Christine Kendall - OPTIONAL

The True Definition of Neva Beane by Christine Kendall, 240 pages. Scholastic Inc, 2020. $10 

Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG (Discussion of bras and boobs); Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

12yo Neva Beane is experiencing the pains and confusion of growing up. With the help of her dictionary and extensive vocabulary, she is navigating her way through her changing body, new bras and her appearance. Mom and Dad are on the road working, leaving Neva and her brother, Clay, living with their old fashion grandparents. Clay has decided to be an activist against the wishes of Granddad and Nana and Neva's friend Jamila, is getting all of the attention. Neva is not sure where she fits in, in the politically charged neighborhood of West Philadelphia. Through the comfort of words, Neva is able to make sense of her world she is now slowly feeling part of. Neva decides opening up to those around her is actually much better than holding everything inside.

 I liked the political aspect of this story because it could help young readers understand some of the events currently happening in our world. I don't like how the cover looks very juvenile but the content of the story is for a more mature audience. I would not recommend this book to elementary students, but the cover makes it look like that is where it belongs. 

Jessica Nelson Librarian 

Crossings by Katy S. Duffield, illustrated by Mike Orodan - ESSENTIAL

 Crossings: Extraordinary Structures for Extraordinary Animals by Katy S. Duffield, illustrated by Mike Orodan. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Beach Lane (Simon), 2020. $19. 9781534465794 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Man’s roads have cut through the habitats of every animal in the world. Only now are we taking animals into consideration and building in or adding structures to help the anmials find safer ways to cross the roads of all sizes. 

Duffield and Orodan have crafted a beautiful book about these, unfortunately fairly unique crossing structures. After reading the book together it is an easy step to search the internet for photographs of the structures and look for more examples. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

Jump at the Sun by Alicia D. Williams and Jacqueline Alcantara - OPTIONAL

 Jump at the Sun: The True Life Tale of Unstoppable Storycatcher Zora Neale Hurston by Alicia D. Williams, illustrated by Jacqueline Alcantara. PICTURE BOOK BIOGRAPHY. Atheneum (Simon), 2021. $18. 9781534419131 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

From her youngest age, Zora loved sitting around the general store listening to the folks swapping tales. This inspired her to create and write and share her own tales. Though her new stepmother kicked her out of the house at 14, Zora always remembered her mother’s advice: Jump at the sun; you might not land on the sun, but at least you’ll get off the ground. This guided her life as she worked for her education, collected folktales, and wrote her own stories. 

Alcantara’s illustrations are full of the sun for which Zora is jumping and Williams breathes life into Zora with her telling. As I was reading, I realized that though I have heard of Zora, I can’t say that I have actually read any of her stories myself. For elementary schools, you should also get Lies and Other Tall Tales which is an illustrated version of many of the tall tales Hurston collected. It can also support any Black Lives, Authors, or Women’s History collection. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS

Shaped by Her Hands by Anna Harber Freeman, Barbara Gonzalez, and Aphelandra - OPTIONAL

 Shaped by Her Hands: Potter Maria Martinez by Anna Harber Freeman and Barbara Gonzalez, illustrated by Aphelandra. PICTURE BOOK BIOGRAPHY. Albert Whitman, APRIL 2021. $17. 9780807575994 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL – ADVISABLE; MS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Maria was born in the late 1880’s and already her people. The Tewa of New Mexico, were losing their pottery-making skills because they were buying factory-made tinware. But the young girl tracked down a teacher and was able to learn to make the pots and dishes her family and village needed. When an archaeologist came asking her about recreating a black-fired pot, Maria experimented and was able to recreate the black on black pottery, which also revived interest in pottery making. 

We have several ceramics classes at my school, so I am very excited to share this book with those teachers! It is a simple book, but a great jumping off point to talk about crafting as a way to keep historic skills, as a connection to culture. One of the authors and the illustrator are both connected to Native American tribes. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

Lincoln Clears a Path by Peggy Thomas and Stacy Innerst - ESSENTIAL

 Lincoln Clears a Path: Abraham Lincoln’s Agricultural Legacy by Peggy Thomas, illustrated by Stacy Innerst. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Calkins Creek (Boyds Mill), 2021. $19. 9781684371532 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS, HS - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: ADVISABLE 

Abraham Lincoln started out helping on his family farm – working hard to feel trees and remove stumps to clear a path for a place for the family to grow. That idea of clearing a path became an informal motto for him as he served in his state legislature, became a lawyer, and then became the President of the United States. There he used his influence and power to sign into law major pieces of legislation to clear the path for people to grow: creating the Department of Agriculture, starting the Homestead Act, opening land-grant colleges, and issuing the Emancipation Proclamation. 

A great non-fiction picture book choice for elementary through high school. Whether an introduction to Lincoln as president, or a unit starter for a government class – so many ways to use it. And I love the on-going thread of “Clearing a path”. The subtitle may be about an agricultural legacy, but his legacy is much deeper, and Thomas let’s us see the scope of his life. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

The Leaf Detective by Heather Lang and Jana Christy - ADVISABLE

 The Leaf Detective: How Margaret Lowman Uncovered Secrets in the Rainforest by Heather Lang, illustrated by Jana Christy. PICTURE BOOK BIOGRAPHY. Calkins Creek (Boyds Mill), 2021. $19. 9781684371778 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

In 1979, after fighting for an education as a botanist that few people wanted to give her, Margaret knew she wanted to study the rainforests of Australia. Not just by looking through binoculars as other botanists did, but on the branches, in the canopy, above that canopy. She engineered her own tools and found her into her beloved trees. To this day she travels the world, trying to convince those who live among the existing patches of rainforest, to find ways besides logging and farming to make the money they need from the trees. 

Any class of any age that explores nature, the rainforest specifically, and women at work should use this. There are time-lapse videos of rainforest deforestation on youtube – and so many others ways to use this as a cornerstone of other lessons. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

Grace Banker and her Hello Girls Answer the Call by Claudia Friddell and Elizabeth Baddeley - ADVISABLE

 Grace Banker and her Hello Girls Answer the Call: The Heroic Story of WWI Telephone Operators by Claudia Friddell, illustrated by Elizabeth Baddeley. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Calkins Creek (Boyds Mill), 2021. $19. 978168437505 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS, HS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

In 1917, Grace Baker saw that America’s armed forces needed switchboard operators to join the troops overseas and keep communication flowing. Grace applied, trained, and headed to the front with her group of 33 charges. Through adverse conditions, including a fire, they managed to keep the information flowing. 

I loved this, but I especially love that the ship the women boarded was a dazzle ship! I’m not how useful this would be in an elementary school – in fact, I don’t know where WWI is covered, but even so, any conversation about women, women in war, technology advances, can use this in the collection. There are videos of switch board operators on youtube.

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

Charlie Thorne and the Lost City by Stuart Gibbs - ESSENTIAL

Charlie Thorne and the Lost City by Stuart Gibbs, 367 pages. Simon & Shuster, 2021. $18 

Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (danger, shooting) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Charlie has been laying low in a remote South American city, spending her days surfing, reading, and volunteering at a tortoise breeding center. One day, however, not only one stranger comes looking for Charlie specifically, but two. One takes Charlie to the Center, where they have found a riddle written into the undershell of an ancient tortoise. The other is tracking down Charlie for the Russians, because they want Pandora, Einstein’s formula, which is only stored in Charlie’s brain. 

Charlie’s newest puzzle will reunite her with her half-brother, CIA agent Dante, expose more layers of betrayal and danger, and send into the deep of the Amazon on the search for something Darwin says will change the world as we know it. You still have to believe that Charlie can do what she does, even though she is only 12. However, the excitement and sleuthing and sheer level of danger makes up for the lack. Definitely turning into a globe-trotting National Treasure series. So much fun! 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS https://amzn.to/3qp7tsB

A Phoenix First Must Burn edited by Patrice Caldwell - OPTIONAL

A Phoenix First Must Burn: Sixteen Stories of Black Girl Magic, Resistance, and Hope edited by Patrice Caldwell, 354 pages. SHORT STORY COLLECTION Viking (Penguin, Random House), 2020. $19.

Language: R (28 swears 7 'f'); Mature Content: PG13 (references to sexual assault and intimacy) Violence: PG13.

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

16 works by prominent authors tell magical stories of black experiences. Witches, mermaids, sorcerers, queens, vampires, lovers and more, some are about magic, some just touched by it. Alaya Dawn Johnson, Ibi Zoboi and Karen Strong retell folktales, while Amerie and J. Marcelle Corrie's stories are science fiction. Historical Fiction stories tell of a girl born on a plantation with special powers, or another girl, shot and left for dead who makes a deal with the desert to get revenge in the old west. Justina Ireland's tale about an apprentice trying to learn magic from a jealous sorcerer was one of my favorites, as was Dhonielle Clayton's story of a girl whose breakup was actually causing her heart to die.

Intended for a teen audience, these stories are about powerful, strong, resilient and magical women (and non-conforming individuals). I loved the diversity of the stories, they really reflected each author's unique style. There were a couple of High Fantasy, some urban legends and even some tech stories as well. While I didn't love them all, I'm certain there's plenty of content for varying tastes, with special appeal for those looking for a Black perspective.

Lisa Librarian