Three Tasks for a Dragon by Eoin Colfer and P.J. Lynch - ESSENTIAL

Three Tasks for a Dragon by Eoin Colfer, illustrated by P.J. Lynch. 113 pages. Candlewick, 2023. $20 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (threats, battles, deaths - not graphic) 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ESSENTIAL  MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Prince Lir doesn't have the qualities of an heir to the throne. He can't ride a horse, lift a sword, or summon the wolfhounds. His stepmother manages to get him banished from the kingdom, and sends him on an impossible task; he must rescue a maiden from an aging dragon. 

Once there was a prince . . . Colfer has penned a marvelous fairy tale complete with black magic, a fire-breathing dragon, a deposed prince, and a beautiful maiden. Richly illustrated by PJ Lynch, it's beautiful enough to live on the coffee table and I'm certain will be read and re-read. 

Lisa Librarian 

The Improbable Tales of Baskerville Hall by Ali Standish - ADVISABLE

The Improbable Tales of Baskerville Hall by Ali Standish. 336 pages. Middle Grade HarperCollins, 2023. $20 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G Violence: PG (peril. student fist fights) 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Young Arthur Conan Doyle is sure he's the answer to help his struggling family in 1868, Edinburgh. His father drinks too much to support Arthur, his mother, and many sisters - he will drop out of school and get a job. But, out of the blue, Arthur receives a scholarship to the prestigious Baskerville Hall. An airship picks him up and sweeps him away to a boarding school embroiled in a mystery. It's the perfect place for brilliant Arthur to use his skills of observation and pugilism. 

Readers don't need a background knowledge of Doyle to enjoy this fun novel, but those who love Sherlock Holmes will recognize characters like James Moriarty, Dr. Watson, Mrs. Hudson, and others. The Steam punk elements were great, and I loved that they added danger and suspense to the story. You'd have to do the math to see that Arthur is a 9yo (provided the time frame is the same as Doyle's actual age), but the story reads more like he was 12. I really liked it - Standish has introduced a lot of characters, as I'm sure there will be a sequel, but it didn't feel like the setup for a series. Includes a mini-biography of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. All the characters are British, except Irene who is American. 

Lisa Librarian 

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein and Douglas Holgate - ESSENTIAL

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein, illustrated by Douglas Holgate. 250 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Random House, 2023. $22 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

12yo Kyle gets a chance to stay overnight in the new town library designed by world-famous game maker, Luigi Lemoncello. Kyle is beyond excited but then learns that getting out is the real puzzle. Kyle and the other kids are in a race to see who can figure out all the puzzles and win the game by escaping the library first. 

The illustrations are bright and colorful and add to the story. Loaded with all sorts of book references and clues, this will appeal to bibliophiles, gamers, and mystery solvers alike. I stayed hooked throughout and look forward to the next book! Kyle and his friends seem to represent a mix of ethnic backgrounds. 

Michelle in the Middle

Godzilla and Godzilla Raids Again by Shigeru Kayama - ADVISABLE

Godzilla and Godzilla Raids Again by Shigeru Kayama (translated by Jeffrey Angles), 256 pages. University of Minnesota Press, 2023. $20.

Language: PG13 (35 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG13

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW

After the war, people are going about their lives again. Sailors are out working, and friends are going to concerts—until a monster from the sea ruins all those plans. Destruction and devastation has returned in the form of Godzilla, and no missile is a match for him.

In and of itself, Godzilla isn’t a very well written story. The story is choppy, and the characters—including Godzilla—and settings are inconsistent. What makes the story of Godzilla good is recognizing the monster as a metaphor for war. When the book is read through the lens of how people might respond to war, then it is interesting. Through that lens, an appearance of Godzilla is always a possibility.

All of the characters are Japanese. The mature content rating is for alcohol use. The violence rating is for blood and gore, gun use, persistent death, suicide, and fantasy violence.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

The Snow Man by Jonah Winter and Jeanette Winter - ADVISABLE

The Snow Man by Jonah Winter, illustrated by Jeanette Winter. PICTURE BOOK NON-FICTION. Beach Lane (Simon), 2023. $19. 9781665932394

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Decades earlier the man was young and just loved the peace he found in the beautiful mountains in every season. In the winter he started recording levels and observation - something to do to pass the time.  It wasn’t until much later that he shared this information with climate scientists, who knew it was a treasure trove of data to prove that climate change is happening.

Wow! I can’t imagine the dedication and persistence of Billy Barr, the man who has collected more than 50 years of data about his mountain home - even if he did start all of the measurements because he was bored. Winter and Winter (son and mother team), give us a few words per page (probably more words than Billy speaks each year), and Winter’s distinctive minimalist illustrations. Great for a science class - the short documentary seems to be easily available online - show your students citizen science in action!

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS

Does My Body Offend You? by Mayra Cuevas and Marie Marquardt - OPTIONAL

Does My Body Offend You? by Mayra Cuevas and Marie Marquardt, 432 pages. Knopf Books for Young Readers (Penguin Random House), 2022.  $19

Language: R (100+  swears, 15 “f”); Mature Content: PG-13 (lots of talk about the female body - boobs, nipples, vagina, etc, one instance of underage drinking to excess); Violence: PG-13 (on-page sexual assault - groping, talk about sexual assault survivors)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Malena is a 10th grader from a humble background, transplanted to Florida from Puerto Rico after the devastation of Hurricane Maria. She just wants to fit into her new life, but when she is unfairly targeted for a dress-code violation at her new school, she learns the power of finding her own voice. Ruby is a senior from a white, privileged background, transplanted to Florida from Seattle. Ruby wants to do the right thing for everyone, but as she works with Malena, she will learn that she has a long way to go to help make real change.

The last book I read, I compared it to cotton-candy. This book was like a roast beef sandwich - there was a lot of depth to it and I was fully invested in the story. The discussion moved between social justice, racism, sexism, feminism, patriarchy, and activism pretty flawlessly, as well as exploring the intersectionality of those issues. I loved the growth that Malena and Ruby both experienced over the course of the novel. It was fascinating to consider what happens after the protest ends and the hubbub subsides, how do the people involved move on and make change? I will say that after finishing, it made me want to find a cause to champion and protest ASAP.

Reviewer: Kiera Beddes, #bookswithbeddes

Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher - ADVISABLE

Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher, 128 pages. Tor Books, 2023 $20 

Violence: PG (undetailed deaths)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Toadling has been guarding the castle behind the thorn hedge for 200 years. She keeps hoping that the world will forget and she can take her rest. Then a knight appears who seems more persistent, and also more kind, than the ones who came before. Toadling eventually tells him her story and how Toadling made the mistake that left evil sleeping for all of these decades. 

Kingfisher gives us a tight, intriguing tale that twists on the familiar Sleeping Beauty. Adults will love this and I think it would make a great class read for middle school or high school. So many dimensions, and layers in a small package. The knight is Muslim, Toadling's ethnicity and age are unknown. The book was provided for review by libro.fm. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLIS 

Places We've Never Been by Kasie West - ADVISABLE

Places We've Never Been by Kasie West, 336  pages. Delacorte Press (Penguin Random House), 2022. $19

Language: PG (2 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG (catcalls, kissing, family with a cancer diagnosis); Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Norah is a 17yo high school junior Caucasian artist who dreams of being a videogame designer and has an interview at her dream college in Seattle. Before that can happen, she has to survive a cross-country RV trip with her mom & brother, and her childhood best friend’s family. But both Norah and Skyler don’t click like they used to and it seems like everyone in Norah’s life is keeping secrets.

Light and fluffy, like the best cotton candy. It was a pretty quick read and just a hint of emotional depth as Norah navigates her changing relationships. I was slightly annoyed by how long it took to find out the big reveal that was hinted at throughout the story, but I could see how it would drive some readers to devour the story. This would be a nice, clean, sweet romcom to add to your classroom library, but don’t expect more depth than there is.

Reviewer: Kiera Beddes, #bookswithbeddes

Forever Twelve (The Evers #1) by Stacy McAnulty - ADVISABLE

Forever Twelve (The Evers #1) by Stacy McAnulty, 351 pages. Random House, 2023 $18 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f');  Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (girl falls from roof) 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

12yo Ivy is excited to take the exam for the prestigious West Archer Academy - her love of learning and knowledge has left her feeling on the outs at all of her other schools. A random girl on campus mistakes Ivy for someone named Grace, leading to a deeper mystery - including Abigail trying to persuade Ivy that Abigail and a few others are Evers - children who have been changed and now live forever. Abigail is sure that Ivy is the key to finding out what happened to Grace - an Ever who disappeared more than 50 years ago. 

There doesn't seem to be a specific reason, at least not revealed yet, that the Evers have to be 12. And one of the Evers seems to be younger, but he doesn't appear much on the pages. It feels like the 1st book is a lot of set-up for things to start happening in the next book. The current Evers seem to do very little with their immortality. But the mystery and the dramatic rush at the end will draw some fans. Plus I want to see more of Ronan, Ivy's acquaintance from home who has his own supernatural challenges to deal with. The characters default to white. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLIS

Every Time You Go Away by Abigail Johnson - MANY

Every Time You Go Away by Abigail Johnson, 368 pages. Inkyard Press, 2023. $20.

Language: R (53 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

Rebecca lives next door to Ethan’s grandparents, and all she’s ever wanted is for Ethan to stay, but his mom keeps taking him away. After this longest period of separation, Rebecca (17yo) and Ethan (17yo) are coming back together changed by the lives they’ve lived apart. This last reunion might be their last—for better or ill.

Life is not always kind, and Rebecca and Ethan suffer in different ways—different from each other and different from readers—but the underlying insecurities and questions about trust are the same. Through their story, readers see how no one can talk us out of our dark places. We have to choose to turn away from the pain, knowing that it will probably always be there, and that’s okay. Moving forward is still possible. It’s always still possible.

Rebecca is described as having “light” skin, Ethan is depicted on the cover as white, Neel is at least half Indian, and Amelie is Latina. The mature content rating is for partial nudity, innuendo, underage drinking, and drug use. The violence rating is for mentions of domestic violence.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Drizzle, Dreams, and Lovestruck Things by Maya Prasad - ADVISABLE

Drizzle, Dreams, and Lovestruck Things by Maya Prasad, 464 pages. Disney Hyperion, 2022.  $18

Language: G (1 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG (one instance of underage drinking at a party, dealing with grief over the death of family members); Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

The Singh sisters have grown up in the Songbird Inn, a charming bed and breakfast in the Pacific Northwest that was recently named “Most Romantic Inn in America.” The family of girls are close-knit but like any family, they drive each other crazy too. Nidhe (18) - the organized and sensible oldest, Avani (17) - the scatterbrained, sporty poet and twin, Rani (17) - the dramatic romantic and twin, and Sirisha (16) - the painfully shy photographer. Over the course of a year, each sister gets their own story where they learn about love and life during each season. 

As someone who also grew up in a family with four girls, the family dynamic was spot on. I loved all the sisterly love and affection (even through the various fights and misunderstandings), and it was so fun to see each sister get her own story. I also loved all the references to Indian culture - the food, the music, and movies. This is a great choice for your classroom library - awesome representation, authentic family dynamics, and sweet romantic storylines.

Reviewer: Kiera Beddes, #bookswithbeddes

Night Render by Jodi Meadows - ADVISABLE

Nightrender (Salvation Cycle #1) by Jodi Meadows. 367 pages Holiday House, 2022. $15 

Language: PG (1 swear 0 'f'); Mature Content: PG (implied sex); Violence: PG-13 (bloody death)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Prince Rune is betrothed to Princess Hanne and as they’re visiting his homeland, she gets trapped in a malsite where no one can see or hear her on the outside of the boundary of this area filled with malice. Rune wakes the Nightrender from her 400-year old slumber to save the princess. The Nightrender is a mythical hero who saves humans from malice and corruption. Rune wants to help the Night Render but his parents fight him about it, so nothing gets accomplished. Meanwhile, Hanne is threatened by an evil creature, a rancor. She must help create a weapon against her kingdom and Rune’s kingdom or she will be destroyed. Hanne wants to save herself and she’ll do anything to stay safe. 

The story is of action and intrigue. The Night Render is an awesome mythical character with a single mission. The character development is a little stilted in some parts. The ethnicity is light brown skin dominant in Ivasland and white skin dominant in Embria. 

LynnDell Watson, Delta High School Librarian

Hex Americana by Bree Wolf - OPTIONAL

Hex Americana by Bree Wolf, 380 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. Iron Circus Comics, 2023.  $15

Language: G (1 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG (a couple of characters have a near brush with death) ; Violence: PG (some intense racing scenes, a couple of fatphobic jokes)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS – OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW

Ken Takamoto is a daredevil half-Yōkai who is obsessed with car racing. He accidentally comes across the Speed Demon of Echo Canyons, the ghost of a boy, Dante Willow, who died in a car race 20 years earlier. Together they train to compete in the Hex Americana, the biggest car race around. It’s not all fun and games, however, when they learn the truth about Dante’s death and the powers actually behind the Hex.

This was a weird read for me. I usually really like fantasy, but I think the combination of ghouls, demons, ghosts, and other fantastical elements with the modern sport of car racing was throwing me off. I didn’t really understand the world - I also didn’t fully understand everyone’s motivations, so it made the ending seem unresolved. It’s ok if you have the budget, but it will only appeal to a small portion of your readers.

Reviewer: Kiera Beddes, #bookswithbeddes

Dawnbreaker (Salvation Cycle #2) by Jodi Meadows - OPTIONAL

Dawnbreaker (Salvation Cycle #2) by Jodi Meadows, 450 pages. Holiday House. 2023. $20. 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: PG (kissing); Violence: R (bloody deaths). 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Reeling from the overwhelming destruction caused by the Malice weapon, Salvation’s residents are trying to save themselves and the injured. They’re searching for survivors and want justice served on those who set the weapon off. Rune is stuck in the rancor king’s domain while the Night Render hunts down the three scattered pieces of the weapon that can take the evil king down. Hanne questions everything she’s ever believed about the “helpful” voice she’s heard since she was a child. If the kingdoms can work together, there might still be hope in surviving the destruction of their world.

The love interest is a bit stilted. The character growth is stronger in this sequel than in the first book of the series. My favorite character is Prince Rune because he’s kind and strong. Falls to white 

LynnDell Watson, Delta High School Librarian

The Borrow a Boyfriend Club by Page Powers - OPTIONAL

The Borrow a Boyfriend Club by Page Powers, 352 pages. Delacorte Press (Penguin Random House), 2023. $19

Language: R (47 swears, 5 “f”); Mature Content: PG (one heated kiss that doesn’t go anywhere, and one instance of underage drinking spiked lemonade); Violence: PG (references to microaggressions around the protagonist’s transition, but no outright bullying or abuse);

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Noah is a 16yo, trans white man from a middle class background, that is trying to start over fresh at a wealthy new school in Ann Arbor, MI. He desperately wants to be seen as "real" enough. To do so, he wants to join a team or club that screams masculinity. So he tries out to join the Football and Lamborghini After-School Club, despite the attempts to dissuade him from the standoff-ish, über wealthy, but lonely, club president Asher. The Football/Lamborghini club is actually a front for the Borrow a Boyfriend club, the hottest secret group at school, where "borrowers" can request a "date" from one of the desirable club members. The club is struggling though, so Noah makes a deal to help them win the talent show, in order to finally be accepted in the club and be seen as a real man to his classmates, his parents, and most importantly, himself.

One of the cover quotes says this was "a joyous story of trans happiness that the world desperately needs" and that was what drew me in. The plot was silly as any romcom movie, but I really liked watching Noah and Asher grow closer together. I liked seeing Noah's self-identity as a man and the found family nature of the club develop more fully over the course of the novel. There were some issues with the plot trying to do too much, as it was a debut novel, but I enjoyed the characters and the emotional growth of the novel enough to overlook it. A hit with your contemporary fiction/romcom readers, and extra points for the great LGBTQIA representation.

Reviewer: Kiera Beddes, #bookswithbeddes

We Are All So Good At Smiling by Amber McBride - ADVISABLE

We Are All So Good At Smiling by Amber McBride, 304 pages. Feiwel and Friends (Macmillan), 2023.  $19

Language: PG (20 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG-13 (suicidal ideation, clinical depression, death of two family members, gaslighting); Violence: PG-13 (repeated racial slurs, racial motivated bullying, self-harm)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW

Whimsy, a black 18yo girl with magic in her bones, meets Faerry, a black Fae boy with wings, at a hospital treatment center for depression. They soon realize that their lives have been entwined before. They get stuck in a magical garden in the forest and have to find their way out again, with the help of some Fairy Tales.

If the premise doesn’t really make sense, it’s because it’s written in verse and the whole thing is one giant metaphor. I thought it was complex, beautiful, and heartbreaking. The ultimate message is you are not alone, even when your mind seems broken, or worse, the villain. There is always a way through. Readers who loved Once Upon a Time or Grimm’s Fairy Tales will get a kick out of all the fantastical allusions in the poetry. It may not appeal to a wide audience, but it will connect with your artsy, literary type readers.

Reviewer: Kiera Beddes, #bookswithbeddes

Prince of Thorns and Nightmares (Disney Prince novel) by Linsey Miller - ADVISABLE

Prince of Thorns and Nightmares (Disney Prince novel) by Linsey Miller, 426 pages. Disney, 2023. $19

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (some fighting)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Prince Phillip is resigned to marrying the Princess and keeping her safe for the rest of his life, but he is definitely not happy about it - he feels he has no identity besides his role as protector. A few weeks for his impending doom, when he and his squire Johanna are attacked, Phillips’ previously unknown magic is also released, bringing in his own three fairies who are determined to teach despite his protests. What he hasn’t ever told anyone is that every night he also dreams of a girl - a sarcastic girl who never cuts him any slack.

I loved this deep dive into Prince Phillip’s side of the Sleeping Beauty story.  I think this would make a great movie! I have a few kids who have discovered the Twisted Tales - hopefully, they will enjoy these also.

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS

Kin: Rooted in Hope by Carole Boston Weatherford, art by Jeffery Boston Weatherford - ADVISABLE

Kin: Rooted in Hope by Carole Boston Weatherford, art by Jeffery Boston Weatherford, 208 pages. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2023.  $19.

Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG-13 (slavery, descriptions of hunting down escaped slaves, enslaved women giving birth to mixed race children); Violence: PG-13 (enslaved peoples bought & sold, repeated whippings and beatings)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Carole and Jeffery Weatherford tell the stories of their enslaved ancestors through poetry and art. The poems' voices range from people in the author’s direct lineage, to luminaries like Harriet Tubman and Fredrick Douglass, to the people (slavers and landowners) and objects (e.g. the slave ships and plantation homes) directly involved in perpetuating the enslavement of human beings for hundreds of years and throughout generations.

Weatherford writes an incredibly powerful account of slavery in America, through the exploration of one family tree over time. The poems trace the roots of the family from the first free Black settlements after the Civil War, through the fields of the Lloyd plantation in Maryland, all the way to the shores of Africa. The scratch art is spare but impactful. I could see this book being an excellent supplemental material for American History lessons with lots of potential connection to literature and art.

Reviewer: Kiera Beddes, #bookswithbeddes

Scurry by Mac Smith - ADVISABLE

Scurry by Mac Smith, 316 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. Sky bound Comet, 2023. $15

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (fights, some blood depicted)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

The mouse colony is running out of food. Wix is a red mouse that is the best scavenger in the colony. Pict, his friend, is the Master Orim’s daughter and desperately wants to help. The humans have vanished, and it is getting harder and harder for the colony to find food. On top of this, the wolves and cats are out to get them. Wix and Pict both go on different journeys, and meet lots of people along the way in an attempt to save their colony.

I really liked the art style of the book! I didn’t love how the storyline kept jumping to completely different things, for example introducing the cats as the main enemies and then quickly changing it to the wolves. Kids who like animals as the main characters will enjoy this. Overall though, I did like the character development, especially of Pict.   

It does not describe the age of the main character since they are a mouse, but Wix and Pict appear to be young.

Student Reviewer: SophiaR, 9th grade reviewer

Cross My Heart and Never Lie by Nora Dåsnes - ADVISABLE

Cross My Heart and Never Lie by Nora Dåsnes, 239 pages. Astra Books for Young Readers, 2023. $18

Language:  PG (1 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG-13 (cartoon depiction of students changing in the bathroom & gym class, dealing with maturation, coming to terms with personal sexual identity); Violence: PG (some play fighting, a couple instances of verbal fighting)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Tuva is a 12yo Norwegian girl on the cusp of entering 7th grade. She has two best friends, Linnéa and Bao. However, upon starting school again,  Tuva is noticing some changes between her and her friends. Linnéa has a boyfriend and is too grown up to play games like they used to, and Bao wants nothing to do with love, romance, and growing up. Tuva is somewhere in between. To make matters worse, a new girl moves into their class and Tuva might be falling in love with her for the first time.

If you ever wanted to reminisce about what it was like to be a 12 year old girl, this coming-of-age graphic novel captures it perfectly. Layered on top of all the normal hormonal angst, is the pitfalls of cyber-friendships. I really enjoyed Tuva’s inner voice as she tries to navigate the rocky nature of friendships changing, gossiping, and teenage drama. I liked how her queerness was never the conflict, but rather her relationships with her friends being the center of the plot. I think this would be a good addition to a classroom library for its LGBTQIA representation, as well as the relatable protagonist’s voice as she illustrates the change from childhood to teenage-hood in the modern world.

Reviewer: Kiera Beddes, #bookswithbeddes

Lia Park and the Heavenly Heirlooms (Lia Park #2) by Jenna Yoon - ADVISABLE

Lia Park and the Heavenly Heirlooms (Lia Park #2) by Jenna Yoon, 343 pages. Aladdin (Simon), 2023. $18

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (minor fighting and blood) BUYING 

ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

7^th grader Lia Park goes to this magic school and starts having problems right away. She is treated badly and people make fun of her. Also a monster comes around and starts stealing the Heavenly Heirlooms - magical items that keep the world from plunging into darkness - so Lia Park goes out with her friends to save them. Along the way they get attacked and she starts trusting her friends more and more. After each attack, she trusted her friends more.        

This book was really confusing, there was a bit of Korean language used, so that added to my confusion. I also think the book needs to be confusing so you don’t know who the main bad guy is. I do think you have to be a good reader to read this book, and be a slow one so you can take things in better.

STUDENT REVIEWER: EdisonC

           

Constellations by Kate Glasheen - OPTIONAL

Constellations by Kate Glasheen, 224 pages. Holiday House, 2023. $23.

Language: R (17 swears, 2 “f”); Mature Content: R (frequent use of drugs and alcohol by minors, body dysmorphia, several references to sexuality through off-color jokes); Violence: R (intense and persistent physical, sexual, and verbal violence - e.g. abuse from family, teenagers physically fighting, repeated sexual harassment of the protagonist, and repeated homophobic slurs)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW

Claire is a queer (maybe gender neutral?) teen in 1980s New York. They are surviving with a couple of good friends, and a beer. Or two, or three, or more. However, when Claire's drinking gets out of hand, they are court-ordered into rehab. There, with the help of a patient counselor named Charlie, Claire begins the long hard road to recovery and healing their emotional, physical, and mental trauma.

This was a hard book to read in a lot of ways. One, the content was hard. The language, mature content and violence was frequent and rough. It was also hard watching teens unpack their traumas and learn to try to (or not) deal with their addictions. Two, the art was sometimes difficult to read. At times, it was both garish, and garbled, but also poignant in some places. Because it is rated R in every category, it would be difficult to find a place for it in a classroom library, even though I think there would be some students that would really connect with and benefit from Claire’s story.

Reviewer: Kiera Beddes, #bookswithbeddes

Rain Falling on Embers by Liana Gardner - ADVISABLE

Rain Falling on Embers by Liana Gardner, 223 pages. Vesuvian Books, 2023. $17 

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG (brief smoking and drinking; Violence: PG (kidnapping, fight) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Katie McCabe is sick of hearing about the McCabe way of doing things. Her sheriff father can’t control her, so he has decided to send her to the family ranch into the care of his oldest brother, Charlie. Nothing works for Katie in this new place either - if anything it makes Katie feel more belligerent than she ever was at home. She fights with her uncle, with her cousin Sarah, and picks a bigger fight with the school bully, Denton, whose family has been trying to run the McCabe’s out of town for decades. 

I think I am supposed to feel sorry for Katie, but I could not muster up the feeling. Her anger at her father seems to be born out of nothing except teenaged petulance. And she just takes that anger with her to her uncle’s, where she proceeds to hate everyone who is trying to hold out a hand to her - demanding trust without giving any. Gardner’s aim seems to be to help angry teens see themselves in Katie and make a change - I can hope that it does without being convinced. Plus the promise of the blurb on the inside flap is 180 pages into the book and only lasts for 30 more pages - not the brilliance of Hatchet, for sure. 

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS 

Worldwide Crush by Kristin Nilsen - ESSENTIAL

Worldwide Crush by Kristin Nilsen, 272 pages. SparkPress, 2023. $13 

Content: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

7th grader Millie is absolutely in love with Rory Calhoun - this season’s teen heartthrob. She keeps her crush and her obsessive “data collection” about him on the down low - pouring all of her feelings into her special notebook. Millie rides a rollercoaster of hope and disappointment as things go so right and then so wrong. And will it spoil it if I tell you she is headed to a final high note? 

I loved reading about Millie’s supercrush on a singer - I think every tweenager goes through it about someone - singer, actor, whatever. Nilsen draws on her own tween crush on Shaun Cassidy for Millie - but even better, Nilson got contacted by him and he added his own perspective to the heartthrob life. She was even in contact with Andy Gibb’s daughter! While those of us who survived our tween crushes will love this - I know I didn’t regret a single second living thru Millie’s eyes. But I hope our own tween readers will also embrace Millie too. 

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS 

Sixties Girl by Mary Lou Driedger - ADVISABLE

Sixties Girl by Mary Lou Driedger, 188 pages. Wandering Fox, 2023. 9781772034363. $8 (ebook format only), $15 paperback

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

11yo Will was badly bullied by the kids at his old school when they found out his grandmother was a famous picture book artist - the bullying revolving around the plots and titles of her books - so when his new friends at his new school assume his grandparents are dead, he doesn’t try to correct them. Grandma has moved nearby, though, and Will’s parents insist that he spend each Wednesday with her so that he isn’t home alone. At first Will resents this forced close time, but each Grandma has a new, exciting story to tell him about what life was like for her growing up. But what will Will do when his friends discover he has been lying to them all this time?

I enjoyed the peeks back into Grandma’s 1960’s years - her stories are really good. Will’s story is not quite strong enough to hold it all together - but neither part feels right without the other. Will struggle to admit the terrible extent of the bullying to everyone who cares about is wrenching and eye-opening; bullies are very creative and have so much power over everyone around them. 

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS 

Brave Bird at Wounded Knee by Rachel Bithell - ADVISABLE

Brave Bird at Wounded Knee by Rachel Bithell, 145 pages. Jolly Fish Press (Myrick), 2023. $9. 

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (gunshot wound) 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

In 1973, 11yo Patsy lives with her white mother and Native Lakota father in Denver, while her dad’s family mostly live on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, near the site of Wounded Knee. When Patsy hears about the American Indian Movement protest going on at Wounded Knee, she wants to learn more about her Lakota heritage. She gets her chance when her Dad is asked to come help repair the water pump on his aunt Marilyn’s homestead. She decides to stowaway and learn about the situation first hand. She gets much more than she bargained for. 

When Patsy talks about seeing Sacheen Littlefeather’s speech at the Oscars, it brought back my own memories of being 9 and watching the same scene. I also liked learning that fry bread was a Native invention in protest to the US government given them only flour, salt, and lard after they took their Native lands away. Good for a robust history collection or to fill in some historical holes in your collection. 

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS 

It’s a RHAP, Cat by Lee Y. Miao - NO

It’s a RHAP, Cat by Lee Y. Miao, 262 pages. Clear Fork Publishing, 2023. $14. 

Content: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: NOT RECOMMENDED 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW 

When 12yo Cat and her friends see Raphael’s Portrait of a Lady with a Unicorn, not she, but everyone around her see how strongly Cat resembles the girl in the painting. When her school announces participation in a Renaissance history and art project (Rhap) contest, Cat sees this as her chance to delve into family and world history to see if she somehow related to this unknown lady. And maybe she can accomplish two things - beat Annaka, who seems to win everything, and be admitted into the honors history class. 

Add an improbably last minute trip to Italy for hands on research and a deux ex machina letter that arrives just minutes before the contest judging. If the cover doesn’t turn off students, the average writing will. The tortured Rhap acronym and the pun-ish title are eyerollers rather than funny. I didn’t read the first book in the series, so I was confused about the series name (Ellie and Co.), when Ellie is a rare character on page. 

 Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS 

Vicious is My Middle Name by Kevin Dunn - ESSENTIAL

Vicious is My Middle Name by Kevin Dunn, 228 pages. Fitzroy Books, 2022. 9781646032808. $17. 

Language: G (6 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: G (non-physical, but repetitive bullying) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ESSENTIAL; HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

8th grader Sydney Vicious Talcott and her mother have moved back to Beaver Dam to live with her grandmother while Mom goes back to school. Her punk rock style doesn’t actually sit well with the school’s mean girl Bethany Winter, who takes delight in bullying Sydney whenever she can - since her daddy basically owns the town, Bethany doesn’t fear any repercussions. Sydney finds a couple of other outcasts in the school library at lunch and when she finds out that Winters are backing an asphalt plant to be built down the street from the school, she decides that she cannot let that happen. Even though it means pushing back at the Powers That Be. She has an idea - and involves the up and coming indie band that her college-going brother introduced her to and a zine exposing all that is shady about her new town.

Nice to see a book centering 8th grade - even if the characters read a little older. If your HS kids don’t pay close attention, you might be able to slip this one into the collection. Plus the cover helps that feeling or being about an older student. I like everything about Sydney - a bit angry without being destructive. Street smart, but knows when she needs help. And fighting for the environment!

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS 

Food Fight by Linda B. Davis - ADVISABLE

Food Fight by Linda B. Davis, 238 pages. Fitzroy Books, 2023. $16. 

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (some non-physical bullying) 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

6th grader Ben has a terrible relationship with food - in fact there are only ten foods that he can bring himself to eat. He has been diagnosed with ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder), but his parents don’t really understand and now that he is in middle school. One of the kids has picked Ben as his bullying target - specifically because of his eating choices (or non-choices). When the whole grade goes on a weekend trip to a immersive retro farm experience, Ben has no idea how to keep his food issues under wraps. Do his best friends have his back or are they ready to side with the bully? 

Like Ben, I am mystified why Darren is so obsessed with what Ben does or does not eat. That issue isn’t addressed at all. Watching Ben struggles was painful - but I am glad it was a boy for once, not a girl addressing these issues - from what I see in middle grade lit, kids might think that girls have to deal with mean kids, eating issues, and self-esteem. 

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS 

Legacy of an Immigrant by Maria Vezzetti Matson - NO

Legacy of an Immigrant: Four Generations of Flying by Maria Vezzetti Matson, 157 pages. Polenta Publishing, 2022. 9780983199052. $20

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: NOT RECOMMENDED

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW

When Eugene receives a phone call from someone wanting to interview him about his family’s history of flying, the call brings up many memories for him - especially two momentous days around his grandfather’s funeral back when Eugene was just 13yo.

Matson’s flashbacks generate more flashbacks, so I was in an episode of Inception - couldn’t track which time period I was supposed to be. The writing is lackluster and uninspiring. If I gave up half way through, I can imagine how far a student would get. Maybe better time cues would have cleared up the confusion.

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS

A Sky Full of Song by Susan Lynn Meyer - OPTIONAL

A Sky Full of Song by Susan Lynn Meyer, 261 pages. Union Square Kids, 2023. $17

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG (Throwing of vegetables and kicking and punching of Jews)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW

11yo Shoshana and her family moved to North Dakota in 1905 to run away from the persecution happening to Jews in Liubashevka. Shoshana struggles with being different and unique in her Jewish religion. She finds joy in these struggles through music and showing her love to her family. She learns English and new things about the Christian religions that makes her confused.

I really liked the amount of details the book gave even in simple motion and actions along with the big actions. I felt that the book had no forward momentum, however. I felt like even though the story was moving forward it was stuck in place which just made it hard for me to want to read it. I also didn't enjoy how much description of a girl’s menstrual cycle there was. There wasn't anything graphic, but I also think it didn't need as much detail and they added to explain what it is.

Student Reviewer: Sarah T, 9th grade student

Duel by Jessixa Bagley, and Aaron Bagley - HIGH

Duel by Jessixa Bagley, illustrated by Aaron Bagley, 216 pages.  GRAPHIC NOVEL Simon and Schuster, 2023. $25 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Lucy is trying to navigate her first year of middle school as a 6th grader when she is humiliated in the cafeteria by her 8th-grade sister, Gigi. Lucy challenges Gigi to a fencing duel in front of the school so Gigi will leave her alone. The sisters haven't gotten along since the death of their father. Both girls want to win, but the cost could be high. 

Duel has more depth than first glance might indicate. I learned a lot about fencing, but the themes of loss and grief and how we sometimes deal with that poorly are very relatable and the family dynamics are believable. The layout and art make it an easy read. Good for anyone struggling with sibling rivalry and the fencing is a bonus. Race is never specified, but the girls are drawn of black descent and the mother white. 

Michelle in the Middle 

A Twisted Tale Anthology edited by Elizabeth Lim - ADVISABLE

 

A Twisted Tale Anthology edited by Elizabeth Lim, 567 pages. Disney, 2023. $19

Content: PG (mild violence similar to the movies)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Meet 16 new short twisted tale version of classic fairy tales adding to the Disney Twisted Tales series. Classics, of course, like Sleeping Beauty (what if the Prince is the one to go to sleep), Cinderella (What if one of the stepsisters is actually good at heart), but also Brave (what about those rambunctious triplets) and even Treasure Planet.  

Readers can read them all, or skip around to the tales they are most interested in. Each story runs about 50 pages.

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS

The Labors of Hercules Beal by Gary D. Schmidt - ADVISABLE

The Labors of Hercules Beal by Gary D. Schmidt, 347 pages. Clarion (Harper), 2023. $20

Language: G (3 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

7^th grader Hercules Beal has just changed to a local magnet school - with the meanest former drill sergeant Language Arts teacher ever. Hupfer has assigned each student a personal project - Hercules has to find analogies for the 12 labors of Hercules in his everyday life and perform the labors. When a bad winter storm ruins the school, Hercules and his brother offer their family farm as a temporary campus. While he now can commute to school in a couple of minutes, he has more work than ever - since their parents died 18 months earlier, Hercules and his older brother Achilles have been working hard to keep the farm going. In Hercules case, it will literally take a village for him to survive this school year.

Schmidt’s book is a tender look at processing grief and allowing others into our lives to help.  I do not think it will find a wide audience on its own - but it is well worth the reading for those students who do persevere. Might be a good classroom novel choice.

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS

Strikers by Kiel Phegley, illustrated by Jacques Khouri - OPTIONAL

Strikers by Kiel Phegley, illustrated by Jacques Khouri, 168 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Graphic Universe Lerner, 2023. $19 

Language: PG (9 swears, 0 F); Mature Content: PG (alcohol, mom's multiple partners); Violence: PG (hockey violence) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

11yo Evan just wants to win a hockey game. His friend, Bobby, spends most of his time in the penalty box because he would rather fight than win. Their underdog team, the Strikers, doesn't have much going for it. They are made up of a rag-tag bunch of kids with hand-me-down coats and not much in the way of equipment or even a coach. The kids just want to take the ice and get a win. The setting is 1986 in Flint, Michigan, where it may have been easier to get on the ice than it is today. 

This is sort of a gritty love story for anyone who loves a sport so much that they can't leave it alone even when the odds are stacked against them. There aren't many graphic novels about hockey, so that is a draw. Hockey fans will totally relate. The characters are largely white with a variety of ethnicities on the different teams. 

Michelle in the Middle

No Place Like Home by James Bird - ADVISABLE

 

No Place Like Home by James Bird, 295 pages. Feiwel and Friends (Macmillan), 2023. $18.

Language: G (2 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG (implied prostitution); Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

12yo Opin lives out of a car with his mom and his older brother Emjay, 15yo. Each time they move they get a little poorer and their circumstances become a little more dire.  This time Mom is trying to get them from Northern California to her brother’s apartment in Los Angeles. It doesn’t help that Emjay is full of anger and runs away at every possible chance. And when money gets really tight, Opin’s mom dresses up really fancy and stays away most of the night. Clinging to their Native American heritage, Opin believes that things will get better - especially if they can fly under the radar and avoid Family Services.

Opin’s naivete and his firm belief in everything his mother tells him shines throughout the book - painfully. That Bird draws from his own unhoused childhood is readily apparent - Opin’s life is heart-breaking for us in our comfy houses to read, but realistically accurate for families who are living way over the edge. A great mirror for kids similar to Opin, and an excellent window for others.

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS