This Side Up by Richard Fairgray and Lucy Campagnolo - OPTIONAL

This Side Up (Cardboardia #2) by Richard Fairgray and Lucy Campagnolo, 108 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL TGM Development Corp. Pixel+Ink.. 2022. $21 

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Bird, Mac, and Maisie have been rescued in The Cardboard by the Witches. They are being pressured to play the board game, Cardboardia, so they can save the land from the Grey Queen. Unfortunately, they can't play since they don't have the rules or Mac's little sister, Pokey, who is lost. Danger only increases as the Grey Queen and her guards close in on them. 

The story is a good premise. Who wouldn't want to be able to enter a cardboard box and end up in a magical world. The art is colorful and fun. It's a little confusing in places though. The size is problematic since it's picture book size. It also seems short. I just get interested in the story and the book is done, leaving the storyline up in the air. The characters are diverse, though background is never specified. 

Michelle in the Middle

Kid Confident #2: How to Master Your Mood by Lenka Glassman, PsyD, illustrated by DeAndra Hodge - ESSENTIAL

Kid Confident #2: How to Master Your Mood  by Lenka Glassman, PsyD, illustrated by DeAndra Hodge, 304 pages. NON-FICTION, Young Adult Magination Press. 2022. $17 

Content: G.

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

If you've ever felt sad and can't explain why or wonder why you can be on a roller coaster of emotions, or even why everything embarrasses you, this book will help you understand yourself and put you in control. 

 Packed with information about brain science, true stories and mental health information. While you can skip around and read only sections that may be of most interest to you, the layout is fantastic and will suck you in. There are cool additions in every chapter of fun facts, calls to action, pro-tips, and take aways. The illustrations make this super readable, and the skills taught in this book would ultimately benefit any age group. This is part of a series, and well worth a spot on a bookshelf. Illustrations reflect a wide swath of diversity. 

 Michelle in the Middle

Aviva vs. the Dybbuk by Mari Lowe - OPTIONAL

Aviva vs. the Dybbuk by Mari Lowe, 176 pages. Levine Querido. 2022. $18. 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: PG (talk about menstruation); Violence: PG (physical altercation with an adult, anti-semitic symbols, and racist language). 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Everything changed when Aviva's father died. It was years ago, but 12yo Aviva and her mother are still grief-stricken. Now they live in a small apartment above the mikveh they manage. Aviva is haunted by a Dybbuk, a ghostly figure which causes all sorts of trouble. Kayla and Aviva used to be best friends, but lately, they are practically enemies. When a game of machanayim gets out of hand and someone gets hurt, the principal punishes Kayla and Aviva by requiring them to work together. They must make the upcoming Bas Mitzvah exciting for the rest of the girls, and because Aviva's mother won't let her go to Kayla's house, Kayla must come over to the mikveh. 

Mental health, religion, a ghost story, grief, anti-semitism in the community - there is a lot going on in Aviva vs. the Dybbuk. I found the story intriguing and appreciated the glossary at the end as the plot and most of the characters are members of an Orthodox Jewish community, and I am unfamiliar with their culture. I didn't love the cover, although it represents one of the opening scenes in the story, the plot doesn't go back there, and I don't think it will draw patrons to the book. While I appreciate the story, I think it will be much more appealing to readers with more cultural background knowledge. 

Lisa Librarian 

The Art of Alice & Martin Provensen by Alice and Martin Provensen - GIFT

The Art of Alice & Martin Provensen by Alice and Martin Provensen 240 pages. NON-FICTION, Monograph Chroma Chronicle/Blue Apple. 2022 $35 

Content: G. 

BUYING ADVISORY: ADULT - GIFT 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Alice and Martin Provensen wrote and illustrated more than 40 children's books, this is a collection of their art. Many of their books were "Little Golden Books" and the art style and is reminiscent of that time. There are also illustrations of their trips to Europe, as well as their Caldecott winning book "The Glorious Flight". The book includes an interview with their daughter, who sprinkles in quotes from her parents' speeches along with her own memories growing up with them on their lovely farm. Also included is the full text text of their Caldecott acceptance speech, and an address the following year at ALA. 

I would consider this a coffee table book, directed to an adult audience. What text there is is in very small print, and it's not the text of their books. Only the illustrations from the books, and their original art are included. I know some lovely retired librarians who will adore this book. 

Lisa Librarian

Squished by Megan Wagner Lloyd and Michelle Mee Nutter - ADVISABLE

Squished by Megan Wagner Lloyd, illlustrated by Michelle Mee Nutter. 150 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Graphix (Scholastic). 2023. $13 

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

11yo Avery Lee is one of seven siblings. Avery longs for a room of her own amid the chaos, noise, and needs of her siblings. Avery is graduating into middle school, trying to balance friendships and her art, and scheming how to make money for a new room, when she finds out her family may be moving across the country. 

The depiction of Avery's family life is awesome, especially because it could have been largely negative. It was nice to see a loving and supporting large family in YA fiction, because functional families seem like an endangered species. The characters and situations rang true and Avery's story is a nice slice of life that highlights themes of growing up, friendship, and family. The culture could be Asian, but is not specific. 

Michelle in the Middle

Kill Joy by Holly Jackson - OPTIONAL

Kill Joy (A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder #0.5) by Holly Jackson, 117 pages. Delacorte Press (Random House), 2023. $13.

Language: R (30 swears, 12 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

This group of friends is celebrating the end of finals and kicking off their summer with a murder mystery party. Pip takes this challenge as seriously as she takes her schooling and dives in to win – but not all is as it seems.

In this short novella, Jackson gives background for A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder. Readers gain insight about Pip and her friends and into what led Pip to decide she wanted to look further into the murder of Andie Bell five years before. While a cute story, I don’t think it would have been as fun to read if I didn’t already love Pip.

Pip, Cara, Lauren, Connor, and Ant are all either implicitly or explicitly white. Zach is implied to be at least part Asian, and Pip’s stepdad, Victor, is Nigerian. The mature content rating is for underage drinking, mention of drugs, and innuendo. The violence rating is for mentions of murder.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Black Bird, Blue Road by Sofiya Pasternack - ADVISABLE

Black Bird, Blue Road by Sofiya Pasternack, 320 pages. Versify (Clarion Books). 2022. $17.

 Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (description of amputation). 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

In the medieval Jewish city of Atil (in what is now Turkey), 12yo Ziva's twin brother Pesah has leprosy. He has been moved into a house of his own on the property of the family home as her Uncle Sabriel has warned that contact with Pesah may infect others. No one will care for him properly so Ziva does it. When their father plans to send Pesah to a leper colony, Ziva decides to take him and run away. He is smart and kind and she doesn't want him to die. She thinks she can find a cure in Constantinople, but she is running out of time. Pesah had a vision he would die on Rosh Hashanah, and it was only days away. When their caravan is set upon by thieves, they meet up with a boy who is half sheyd (a sort of demon) named Almas, and together they hope to find the City of Luz - where no one ever dies. 

Ziva is a feisty character, she wants to be a Judge someday, like her father, and she has a strong sense of fairness and justice. She's not afraid to speak her mind and is even willing to try to make a deal with the Angel of Death himself. The plot is strongly rooted in Jewish tradition, and, although there is a glossary, Pasternack does a masterful job of keeping the reader in the story without the need to define every little thing. There's an author's note as well which establishes the setting and time (about 1,000 years ago). While I was plenty grossed out in the first few chapters while Pesah's leprosy was described, I'm so glad I kept going, as I loved Black Bird, Blue Road. 

Lisa Librarian 

The Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat - ADVISABLE

The Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat, 355 pages. Candlewick. 2022. $18. 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: G (some fighting and peril). 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

12yo Sai is an assistant to a mapmaker. She doesn't have the lineage of the other girls her age, and worries about her 13th birthday when they will know she doesn't come from a prestigious family line. In fact, she's a skilled forger, and she is currently hiding from her father, who continues to get her involved in his criminal schemes. So, when her employer offers to let her come along on a ship voyage as the mapmaker's assistant, she jumps at the chance, maybe this is a chance for a new life somewhere else. 

The Last Mapmaker was an engaging adventure. Similar to Soontornvat's other titles, this is a "kid pulls themself out of their bad situation" story.  I really loved the idea of a lineal - a bracelet or pin which shows your family heritage, and that connection to your ancestors somehow designates your value in society. Sai is a resourceful girl and she's really smart, but she makes a bunch of questionable decisions, and while I think her heart is in the right place, it made me worry for when everything was going to fall apart. There's a little bit of magic, too. A fun read. Names and descriptions indicate that Sai is probably Asian. 

Lisa Librarian 

Maizy Chen's Last Chance by Lisa Yee - ADVISABLE

Maizy Chen's Last Chance by Lisa Yee, 288 pages. Random House. 2022. $17 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (racist language). 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

12yo Maizy is visiting her grandparents in Last Chance, Minnesota for the first time. They own a Chinese restaurant called the Golden Palace, and it's a town favorite. She and her mom just planned to stay for a bit - Opa is sick, and maybe Mom being there can help him get better, but a couple of weeks turns into the whole summer as he is worse off than they thought. The Golden Palace is over 100 years old and is full of history. So is Opa. Afternoons when Maizy is staying with him, he teaches her how to play poker but sometimes, he tells her about his grandfather, a Chinese immigrant named Lucky, who settled in Last Chance and made a difference. 

I loved the tidbits of history, the poker skills that worked as restaurant skills and were also people skills. I loved how brave and confident Maizy was as she stood up to bullies and made friends. There's a nice little mystery when someone steals a large bear statue that has stood outside the restaurant and leaves a racist note in its place. Readers who like Yang's Front Desk series will love Maizy, plus, there's a restaurant so there's a lot of food content as well. Minor LGBT character, Maizy is Chinese. 

Lisa Librarian 

Road of the Lost by Nafiza Azad - OPTIONAL

Road of the Lost by Nafiza Azad, 336 pages. Margaret K. McElderry Books. 2022. $14 

Language: PG-13 (20 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (Kissing, innuendos and joking about "giving him everything") Violence: PG (Magic and some sword fights) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE  

All of 17yo Croi's life, she has believed that she is an insignificant brownie- invisible to the human eye and also invisible to the world. But when her guardian gives her a book describing worlds she's never experienced before, suddenly she feels a connection to the strange places written with the magical books. When she feels a pull to these places, she is forced into a journey of self discovery and discovery of her magic. Although all Croi's life she has been taught that she is worthless, she is suddenly thrust into a world of endless possibilities for both her and her powers. 

Road of the Lost is a whimsical novel, with lots of immersive language and colorful creations. I often thought it was a little bit too slow, as the plot was just following Croi and her inner journey, I would've loved a more plot driven book. But it definitely was a good character driven story. Croi is described as having "copper" skin along with her guardian. 

Kenzie Hoehne Reviewer 

She Who Rides the Storm by Caitilin Sangster - HIGH

She Who Rides the Storm by Caitilin Sangster, 400 pages. Margaret K. McElderry Books. 2021. $18 

Language: PG-13 (25 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: PG (alcohol use); Violence: PG-13 (rape and assault briefly mentioned, blood and gore described, a man's throat is cut.)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL - HIGH  

Long before the story is told, there were said to be shapeshifters that ruled the land. Their power and influence came from the souls of their subjects and anyone that dared threaten their kingdom. But now, as the shapeshifters have long been defeated, a secret tomb has been uncovered and in order to keep the balance and not unleash the shapeshifters, 4 complete strangers and their intertwined stories must come together and defeat their common enemy. 

She Who Rides the Storm is full of vivid and lush world building, the world and it's magic is so descriptive and beautiful. This is a book that has the 'perfect heist gang' trope, meaning you've got the thief, the healer, an archaeologist, and several other POVs. I thought the overall book was really well written but the plot lacked that last bit of climax, and end that I was hoping it would have. Anwei, the healer is described with a darker complexion and long brown hair, Knox, the thief has a lighter complexion and brown hair 

Kenzie Hoehne Reviewer

Swim Team: Small Waves, Big Changes by Johnnie Christmas - ESSENTIAL

Swim Team: Small Waves, Big Changes by Johnnie Christmas, 248 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL HarperCollins. 2022. $22. 

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

After a recent move to Florida for her dad's job, Bree is excited to start at a new middle school. She makes a friend, Clara, at her apartment right away. Clara is on the swim team at school and Bree hopes for the Math Club as her elective. But, registering late, she finds Swimming 101 as her only available elective - and Bree doesn't know how to swim. After several skipped class periods where she hides in the library, afraid for anyone to know she's a non-swimmer, a neighbor (who used to be a swimmer herself in her youth) agrees to teach Bree to swim. In order to try to make up her grade, she makes a deal with the teacher to try out for the swim team and discovers that she's a fast swimmer. 

Highly recommended. I'd heard a lot about Swim Team and was excited to read it. There's a good description by Ms. Etta of the segregated pools of the south and why many African Americans aren't swimmers. I loved the theme of being a team outside of the pool is as important as what happens in the pool. Bree also has a lot of self-doubt, and I loved how those "voices" were illustrated within the panels. The main characters are Black. 

Lisa Librarian

The Secrets We Keep by Cassie Gustafson - ADVISABLE

The Secrets We Keep by Cassie Gustafson, 340 pages. Simon & Schuster. 2022. $20 

Language: R (37 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (Verbal abuse, gaslighting of children, physical and emotional neglect);  Violence: PG (Sexual abuse stated but not detailed. Temper tantrums and angry outbursts from adults) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

14yo Emma lives in Prosper, Oregon with her mother, father, and six-year-old brother Kyle. They moved from San Francisco because her father was in trouble for inappropriate behavior with a minor, Alice, a friend of Emma’s. Now it seems that he’s in trouble again with another friend of Emma’s, Hannah. Hannah’s mom found her journal where she’d written about Emma’s father touching her, so the police were called and he was arrested. Emma’s parents have coerced her into standing by her father’s side even if it means lying about the things he’s done to her for years. She’s struggling with loyalty, being treated like a burden, and wanting to stand up for her friend and herself.

This is a story about surviving and the strength that takes! I appreciate the content warning at the beginning of the book to let readers be aware before reading. I enjoyed the gradual unraveling of the mystery surrounding the main character. I like how the author represented survivors and the resources list at the end of the book. Mention of a nonbinary side character with positive interaction and respect.

LynnDell Watson, Delta HS Librarian

Abuela, Don't Forget Me by Rex Ogle - OPTIONAL

Abuela, Don't Forget Me by Rex Ogle, 208 pages. MEMOIR Norton YR. 2022. $19. 

Language: R (0 swears, 3 F); Mature Content: PG13 (teen drug use, kissing); Violence: PG13 (Child abuse - physical, Suicidal thoughts, fighting) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Rex Ogle's mother was physically and emotionally abusive, so he relied a lot on his grandmother. His mother and stepfather were constantly moving the family from one place to another, Rex made few friends, and his only long-term friend lived near Abuela. While he loved her dearly, as a boy he was sometimes embarrassed when his peers would tease him because she had an accent and because he didn't call her grandma. However, her emotional and financial support gave him opportunities he could have never received otherwise. 

 Rex Ogle's Memoir in verse is a tribute to his grandmother, who was a constant safety net, a number he could call, a place he could live. While Free Lunch was middle grade, the content and age range (from age 4 through graduating from high school) of Abuela Don't Forget Me is more appropriate for a High School audience. Rex's grandmother is Mexican 

Lisa Librarian

For All Time by Shanna Miles - OPTIONAL

For All Time by Shanna Miles, 353 pages. Simon & Schuster, 2021. $20.

Language: R (75 swears, 1 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

The pandemic ruined Tamar’s lungs, and now she is dying with little chance of making it to high school graduation. Fayard doesn’t care how difficult it is to be with Tamar; he wants to be by her side, despite her walls. But this isn’t the first time Tamar and Fayard have lived out their tragic romance – and it won’t be the last.

Tamar and Fayard’s stories traverse time and space, putting them together in South Carolina, Mali, France, present, past, future, again and again. The reincarnation idea was fun and well organized; it flowed well despite the overlapping stories. The last few chapters got a little confusing, but Tamar and Fayard were also confused, so maybe that was on purpose. Overall, I actually like the suggestion Miles presents on how fate works and what it really means to love.

Tamar and her family are Black, and Fayard is implied Polynesian. Characters of various races and ethnicities are described throughout the book. The mature content rating is for mention of alcohol and drugs, illegal activity, innuendo, and mentions of brothels, attempted rape, nudity, and sex. The violence rating is for mentions of murder and suicide, child abuse, fistfighting, gun use, death, and fantasy violence.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

NerdCrush by Alisha Emrich - ADVISABLE

NerdCrush by Alisha Emrich, 272 pages. Running Press Teens (Perseus Books), 2023. $19.

Language: PG13 (27 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Nearly everyone in Ramona’s life has told her – through words and actions – that she and her interests are unimportant, which is part of the reason that Ramona loves cosplay so much. When Ramona pretends to be Rel, she’s more confident – confident enough, even, to leave a poem in her crush’s locker to tell him how much she likes him. Then he responds positively, and Ramona doesn’t want to be Rel anymore; she wants to be herself.

There are a lot of things to like about this book, but, let me tell you, I was in agony watching Ramona vacillate between when, how, and whether to tell Caleb what was going on. The train wreck is visible from page one, and I was braced for the inevitable disaster, even while begging Ramona to make the decision I knew she wouldn’t. The mess is worth it, though, because readers get to internalize the message we beg for Ramona to understand: she, you, we are amazing when we are ourselves. Emrich also throws in lessons about people of color in cosplay and what it means to be supportive in a family. Overall, this is a feel-good story that encourages confidence.

Ramona and her family are Black, and Caleb is half Italian. Characters of various races and ethnicities are described. The mature content rating is for mention of underage drinking and some making out.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Castles in Their Bones by Laura Sebastian - HIGH

Castles in Their Bones by Laura Sebastian, 514 pages. Delacorte Press/Penguin Random House. 2022. $11 

Language: PG-13 (19 swears 0 'f');  Mature Content: PG-13 (kissing, drinking wine) Violence: PG-13 (beheading) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

In the imaginary continent of Vesteria, three princesses celebrate their sixteenth birthday together and mourn their time together. They will be sent off to other kingdoms to marry princes. Each princess will go to a different kingdom and marry the ruler; Sophronia is marrying King Leopold, who treats her kindly along with his family and court; Beatriz is marrying Prince Pasquale and seems unwanted by him but she's meant to sway Lord Savelle, as her mother instructed; Daphne is marrying Cillian, who dies before she arrives, so the second heir, Bairre, takes his place in marriage. Each princess struggles with who to trust and with completing their set missions for their mother and her ultimate goals. They’re in more danger than they realize and start to see that they can’t rely on their mother for help or love. 

I had a difficult time keeping the three princesses and their corresponding kingdoms straight. I like the premise of villainous deception and seeing the changes that took place within the princesses. I enjoyed the side characters of each prince and the diversity amongst the kingdoms. Characters are predominantly white. 

LynnDell Watson,  Delta HS Librarian

If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio - OPTIONAL

If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio 354 pages. Flatiron Books, 2017. $18 

Language: R (136 swears 74 'f'); Mature Content: PG-13 Vague, undescriptive sex, mention eating disorder, drinking, and smoking, overdose Violence: PG-13 Rough "play" that results in injury, descriptive murder 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL - AVERAGE 

After spending a decade in prison for a murder he may or may not have committed, Oliver is finally being released. Having made halfway friends with the police chief that put him there, he agrees to meet to discuss what really happened back in 1997 and the events surrounding the crime. Flashing between the past and present, Oliver recounts his senior year in college as an acting student not just performing but also living Shakespearean tragedies. Of the seven students in his class, only six would live to see graduation. 

To put it simply: this novel was a piece of art. It was structured like a Shakespearean play, and much of the dialogue contained quotes directly from various tragedies. Following actors, this was a novel full of deception and layered with motives and drama. I loved it. Certainly, it isn't for everyone, but for a person who loves a good murder, dark academia vibes, and Shakespeare, this is perfect! I will be rereading it and annotating it many times over. Going into this, the reader must know that there is graphic language and that different mature themes are lightly mentioned, including eating disorders, sex, substance abuse, and physical abuse. Race is not explicitly mentioned. There are multiple gay characters. 

Sierra Finlinson 

The Moon from Dehradun by Shirin Shamsi and Tarun Lak - ADVISABLE

 The Moon from Dehradun: a story of partition by Shirin Shamsi and Tarun Lak. PICTURE BOOK. Atheneum (Simon), 2022. $19. 9781665906791

BUYING ADVISORY: EL – OPTIONAL; MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

The girl’s family has lived in Dehradun for generations. But something has changed and they must quickly, in the middle of the night, leave their home and travel 100’s of miles to a new home. They leave so fast and are so scared that she can’t even go back for her doll that was accidentally left behind. Through the days of their journey, she sees the danger, the feelings of hopelessness and sadness in the faces around her. When she finds a doll left behind by another girl, she hopes that her doll is also being cherished.

I am unsure where a picture book about the partitioning of India would go in the elementary curriculum. I will add it to my middle school collection, because we talk about refugees in several places. My World Geography teachers can also use this in their classroom library during their study of the Indian subcontinent.

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS 

A Star Explodes by James Gladstone and Yaara Eshet - ADVISABLE

 A Star Explodes: the story of supernova 1954 by James Gladstone and Yaara Eshet. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Owlkids, 2023. $22. 9781771474986

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS, HS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Back in 1054, the light from a star that exploded thousands of years ago finally reached earth’s sky – seen by people all over the world. With the advent of telescopes and better technology, the remnants of that exploded star were named the Crab Nebula. Astronomers still study it today, as the nebula keeps expanding.

I love that with a little internet search I can see that the explosion was recorded in China, Japan, in European countries, and the Middle East. A nicely written, simple explanation that has many uses in various levels of science classrooms – anywhere teachers talk about space, stars, telescopes.

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS 

Turning by Joy L. Smith - NO

Turning by Joy L. Smith, 340 pages. Simon and Shuster, 2022. $20 

Language: R (115 swears, 31 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG-13 (Topics discussed: sex, abortion, manipulative relationships); Violence: PG-13 (Brief fight scene, domestic abuse discussed)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - NOT RECOMMENDED

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW

17yo Genie's life is dance. She eats, sleeps, and breaths dance and it's paying off! She's on the cover of a ballet magazine featuring Black dancers so her future in choreography and ballet is looking promising! That is, until she falls off a building and becomes a paraplegic. The story behind Genie's accident follows her around, stalking her like her ex-boyfriend who played a pivotal part in her fall, and haunts her. It contaminates her confidence and view of herself in such a way that she now has trouble maintaining relationships. Then one day she meets Kyle at physical therapy. He also had an accident and as the two become friends, Genie realizes that maybe she doesn't have to completely leave dance behind, maybe her relationships can be salvaged, and maybe being in a wheelchair isn't so bad after all.

My impression after the book was this: it was written for a very specific high school audience, and yet brings up very heavy and mature topics such as phycological and physical abuse, sex, and abortion. These topics are not explored in a philosophical manner, that is to say evaluating the morality of them, but rather as things that are simply done. The writing itself was very stylized and immersive. It had wonderful imagery and an expansive vocabulary. Characters and motivations were thoroughly explored. While there are definitely good lessons to learn in this book, it was rather slow and took me a while to finish, and in the end, I don't recommend it. None of the main characters are white.

Sierra Finlinson 

Stars and Smoke by Marie Lu - HIGH

Stars and Smoke by Marie Lu, 336 pages. Roaring Brook Press(Macmillan), 2023. $18

Language: R (49 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG-13 (bisexual relationships mentioned, off-page sex; drinking, transporting drugs); Violence: PG (kidnapping, killing mentioned, death by choking on a chemical weapon, hand to hand combat, shot in the chest. Sydney’s mother killed by father in domestic abuse rage)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Present time in America, 19yo Winter is a famous performer who is being recruited by the Panacea Agency to help take down a dangerous criminal, Eli Morrison. Eli has invited Winter to perform at his daughter Penelope’s birthday celebration in London. This is why Panacea wants Winter’s help, because he can infiltrate Eli’s life with little suspicion. Sydney Cosette works for Panacea and poses as Winter’s bodyguard. The two seem to come from very different backgrounds but they discover they have commonalities. Winter and Sydney get hit with a few surprises on their mission and they’ll have to rely on their wits and trust each other to make it through alive.

Winter and Sydney are interesting characters with unspoken depth. I like the mystery, action and setting of the story. I love the ending. The ethnicity of the main character is Chinese American, other characters are Black, white, brown-skinned, mixed.

LynnDell Watson, Delta High School Librarian

Lasagna Means I Love You by Kate O’Shaughnessy - ADVISABLE

 Lasagna Means I Love You by Kate O’Shaughnessy, 345 pages. Knopf (Random), 2023. $18

Content: G (one character mentions an LGBT crush)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Mo is on the search for family recipies – mostly because she doesn’t have a single one. Her grandmother, Nan, wasn’t much of a cook. And now Nan is gone and Mo is in the foster system. She’s lucky – she’s landed with a well-off couple, June and Tate. While they don’t seem to mesh flawlessly, they are supportive of rising sixth grader Mo when she comes up with her project for a website about family recipes. Really Mo is hoping that someone from her extended family is out there somewhere and will see her site and connect with her.

Sorry I wrote such a lame summary – it really is a charming book and had me choking up a nit at the end. Even though Mo’s life journey isn’t smooth, she does find the love that surrounds her. The characters default to white, with a few ethnic side characters and recipes.

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS 

Simon Sort of Says by Erin Bow - OPTIONAL

Simon Sort of Says by Erin Bow, 305 pages. Disney, 2023. $19. 

Mature Content: PG (some talk of animal sex organs with correct words) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

7th grader Simon has just moved to Grin and Bear It, Nebraska with his parents – a designated National Quiet Zone – no TV, no Internet, no cell phones – because of the large Radio telescopes trying to capture signals from outer space. Which suits Simon just fine, because a couple of years earlier, he was the only survivor in his whole class of a school shooter. Cue a new friend who wants to prank the scientists, an unruly herd of emus, and well-intentioned, but totally out-of-line adults. Let wackiness ensue. The chaos of everything else was secondary to me to watching Simon and his parents try really hard to live “normal” lives – all of grappling with survivor’s guilt and complicated feelings. 

Reasonable, but not gripping; you’ll enjoy it, but it won’t keep you up turning pages all night. Kids will giggle over the animal facts the kids share with each other – they are the kind of facts kids would totally share with each other, but they are anatomically explicit. All of the characters default to white, with some ethnic variety in names. 

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS 

Star Child: A Biographical Constellation of Octavia Estelle Butler by Ibi Zoboi - ADVISABLE

Star Child: A Biographical Constellation of Octavia Estelle Butler by Ibi Zoboi, 112 pages. BIOGRAPHY Dutton (Penguin). 2022. $17. 

Content: G. 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Octavia Estelle Butler was the first black female science fiction writer. She was born in the late 1940's and experienced the Civil Rights Movement, McCarthyism, and the Space Race. She was a gifted storyteller, and is a revered author with over a dozen books. 

Zoboi uses a combination of poetry, prose, photographs, and quotes to piece together Butler's childhood. I'm not familiar with Butler's books but enjoyed this memoir all the same. It's a quick read, and would make a great launch for a unit featuring one of her titles, or as an independent biography read. I especially enjoyed seeing the photograph of Zoboi and Butler together. Octavia Estelle Butler is Black. 

Lisa Librarian

Victory. Stand! Raising My Fist for Justice by Tommie Smith, Derrick Barnes and Dawud Anyabwile - ESSENTIAL

Victory. Stand! Raising My Fist for Justice by Tommie Smith and Derrick Barnes, illustrated by Dawud Anyabwile, 202 pages. BIOGRAPHY, GRAPHIC NOVEL Norton YR. 2022. $23

Language: PG (0 swears 0 'f' 4 'n'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (image of hanged black man, other violence described, not graphic)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Tommie Smith worked alongside his brothers and sisters sharecropping in Texas. When he was about 7 they moved to California where he went to school more regularly. By 7th grade, Tommie was outrunning all the other students on the track. He was a star athlete in High School, playing basketball, and football as well as running track, but by college, his focus was entirely on track and field. During his time in college, he also became politically active, using his fame as an elite athlete to bring focus to the inequality and poor treatment of blacks in the United States. At the Mexico City Olympics, Tommie and John Carlos raised their fists in the air at their podium ceremony during the national anthem. 

Tommie Smith narrates Victory. Stand! and it is a beautiful graphic novel autobiography. Many of Smith's athletic achievements coincided with important moments in Civil Rights - the killing of Medgar Evans, the bombing of the church in Birmingham, and the Selma to Montgomery March, which put the protests he was involved with in context. I loved learning about his background and his convictions. Dawud Anyabwile's sports illustrations are the very best. An important graphic novel for either your biography section or to offer with your civil rights books. Tommie Smith is African American. 

Lisa Librarian

A Shell is Cozy by Dianna Hutts Aston and Sylvia Long - ADVISABLE

 A Shell is Cozy by Dianna Hutts Aston and Sylvia Long. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Chronicle, 2023. $19. 9781797212470

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL, MS, HS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Aston and Long continue their series with a book about shells.

Long’s illustrations are gorgeous and fun to explore in detail. Aston adds just the right amount of text to explain each concept, without overwhelming, and inviting further investigation. Any class that touches on shells would need this book.

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS 

Cloaked in Courage by Beth Anderson and Ann Lambelet - ADVISABLE

 Cloaked in Courage: uncovering Deborah Sampson, patriot, soldier by Beth Anderson and Ann Lambelet. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Calkins Creek (Astra), 2022. $19. 9781635926101

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

At the age of five, Deborah was hired out as a helper because her mother couldn’t afford to keep her children. At eighteen, she took her freedom and took a chance to enlist in the Continental army. Carefully hiding her gender, she fought as hard as the other soldiers around. Even when injured, she managed to keep her secret. It isn’t until she is felled by a fever that she is finally discovered.

I love the back matter where the author talks about research – especially for someone where so little first person information exists. Great for any school covering the American Revolution or women’s history. Check out the case wrap, too.

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS 

The Real Dada Mother Goose Jon Scieszka and Julia Rothman - ESSENTIAL

The Real Dada Mother Goose: a treasury of complete nonsense by Jon Scieszka and Julia Rothman. PICTURE BOOK. Candlewick, 2022. 9780763694340

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS, HS - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Scieszka takes 6 classic nursery rhymes and messes each them up in 6 totally unique, mostly hilarious ways. Not only a great way to teach nursery rhymes to a new generation, but the clever twists on each rhyme will ignite imaginations. I love that at the end Scieszka encourages readers to take their own nursery rhymes and twist them in new ways. Includes back matter explaining twist, such as Esperanto, that readers may not be familiar with.

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS 

The Official Disney Parks Cookbook by Pam Brandon & the Disney Chefs - GIFT

The Official Disney Parks Cookbook: 101 magical recipes from the delicious Disney vault by Pam Brandon & the Disney Chefs, 185 pages. Disney Editions, 2022. $20

Mature Content: PG (some recipes use alcohol)

BUYING ADVISORY: ADULTS, GIFT - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Brandon brings us 101 new recipes from across the Disney universe – from inside the parks, of course, but also the resort kitchens. Includes simple snacks and sophisticated entrees. When my daughter saw the recipe for the Batuuan Ronto Wrap, she was sold! Because of the alcoholic drink recipes, though, more a gift or personal buy than a school library purchase.

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS 

Field Guide to the Supernatural Universe by Alyson Noel - OPTIONAL

Field Guide to the Supernatural Universe by Alyson Noel, 337 pages. McElderry (Simon), 2022. $18

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (moderate danger and scares)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

12yo Max Smith’s ability to see ghosts has gotten him into all sorts of trouble. Now his dad has no choice but to drop him off at his grandfather’s for a few days this summer. Max has only heard bad things from his dad about Ramhart Woodbead – who abandoned his wife and Max’s Dad for ten years – though Ramhart claims he has caught in an alternative dimension. From the first day, Ramhart and the town of Glimmerville are almost too much for Max – haunted graveyards, dangerous hidden passageways. He wants answers and he wants his ability to see ghosts go away – no matter the cost.

Normally I love a book that starts fast and keeps the tension going. And don’t get me wrong – I love the first scene. But I don’t like Max’s grandfather – who doesn’t even take a minute to get to know his grandson – he just rushes Max into life-endangering situations with a brusque, off-putting manner – then he gets angry at Max when Max sets out to find his own answers. I didn't feel this book brought anything new to the genre.

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS 

Camp Creepy by Kiersten White - ADVISABLE

 Camp Creepy (Sinister Summer #3) by Kiersten White, 267 pages. Delacorte (Random House), 2023. $18

Content: G (mild scares)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

They have just left the spa, but the three siblings are already being dropped off at Camp Creek – supposedly the perfect summer camp experience. Theo can’t wait to reencounter Quincy, who betrayed they siblings to Edgarn’t. But of course, something is off about Camp Creek. Edgar and Will have succumbed to the lure of the tie-dye zombie-ness, seeming to becoming the perfect, perky camp counselors. Can Theo keep herself and Alexander safe from the “braindyed”, save Will and Edgar, and even reconcile with Quincy?

The Sinister-Winterbottoms’ story is heading towards huge revelations and a conclusion that I cannot see, but which I am excited for.

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS 

Days of Infamy by Lawrence Goldstone - OPTIONAL

Days of Infamy: how a century of bigotry led to Japanese American internment by Lawrence Goldstone, 288 pages. NON-FICTION. Scholastic, 2022. $20

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

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS – OPTIONAL; ADULTS - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Before Executive Order 9066 sent thousands of Japanese American citizens to concentration camps, decades of white supremacy fueled the flames of racially based suspicion and hatred that allowed American citizens to be imprisoned without trials – based only on their ancestry.

Without using racially charged language and slurs, Goldstone peels back the layers of history that pre-date World War II. Unfortunately, this is a very detailed book that few students will pick up and read all of the way through. I will be buying this because my history teachers need to read this – so does anyone who touches upon the history of the Japanese in America, the Alien Sedition Acts, World War II.

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS 

The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent - ADULTS

The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent, 502 pages. Carissa Broadbent, 2022. $30 

Language: NC-17 (91 swears, 238 ‘f’); Mature Content: R (full sexual and unsexual nudity, long and descriptive sex, sexual assault, crude jokes); Violence: R (Very high death count, intense fighting, self harm, off page torture) 

BUYING ADVISORY: ADULTS ONLY 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH (adults) 

The Kejari is Oraya's only chance to claim her place in her world. The adopted human daughter of the Nightborn vampire king, all she has known is the fear of being surrounded by a court that wants to eat her and the powerlessness of human frailty. And the Kejari, a tournament that guarantees the winner a wish from the goddess of death herself, is her way out of weakness. Oraya knows that a human girl against the immortal, blood-thirsty vampires she will be fighting in the competition won't be easy, but what she doesn't foresee is Raihn. Raihn, she knows from the beginning, will be a formidable opponent, yet what frightens her most are her growing feelings for him. And compassion has no place in the Kejari.

If The Hunger Games and The Cruel Prince had a more intense baby, this would be it. This novel explores politics, compassion, strength, and the complexity of human (or vampire) nature. I thought that the plot was well-paced and interesting; the characters were likeable, beautifully-developed, and made real choices; and that the world building was masterfully managed with details and character choices that were believably consistent. It was a story of deception, kindness, and power with a large sprinkling of slow-burn romance that felt well-paced and natural. Of course, this novel had absurdly obscene language, descriptive sex and themes of sexual assault, and an astronomical death count. Race is not mentioned in this book, although Vincent is blond, Oraya has black hair, and Raihn has dark, red-ish hair. Strictly heterosexual relationships.

Sierra Finlinson 

When Winter Robeson Came by Brenda Woods - ESSENTIAL

 When Winter Robeson Came by Brenda Woods, 160 pages. Nancy Paulsen Books (Penguin), 2022. $17

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (Watts riots, deaths mentioned)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

It is 1965 and Eden is so excited her cousin 13yo Winter is coming to visit for two weeks. Eden and her family African American family moved to Los Angeles and she hasn't seen her cousin for a long time. She has a long list of things they will do while he is visiting. They start out doing fun things, then Winter wants to see if he can find his father that disappeared 10 years earlier in the Watts area of LA, near where Eden lives. They start playing investigators and slowly his father’s whereabouts start coming together for them until they hit a dead-end. At the same time riots start in Watts. Will life ever be the same again? Will they ever feel safe again?

This is a "must read" novel in verse. It was fascinating and educational. Because of this book I spent hours researching the Watts sculptures, the Watts Riots and that area of south east Los Angeles. I found it both fascinating and frightening. A great book to read to fifth graders or read in literature circles so all the things in the book can be discussed and talked about. Modern children may be a little jealous by the amount of freedom 1960’s kids had.

Ellen-Anita, Librarian 

Shine On, Luz by Rebecca Balcarcel- ADVISABLE

 Shine On, Luz by Rebecca Balcarcel, 262 pages. Chronicle Books, 2022. $18

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL – ESSENTIAL; MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Middle schooler Luz, an only child, loves playing soccer. Then she has a massive injury to her leg and knee and requires surgery, crutches, then a cane, and she knows she will never play soccer again. She is suffering from feelings of low self-worth and wonders what else she can do. She discovers programming and works really hard at it. Luz has a natural ability to see how things fit together and finds coding fun and enjoyable. Things are going so well again, when she finds out she has a half-sister in Guatemala that is coming to live with them. She even has to share her room with her new sister. Everybody loves happy and kind Solana. Luz is not so sure.

I loved the book. I could see how hard it would be for Luz to deal with all the changes in her life. I also could see the difficulties and frustrations Solana hides behind her smiles, language barriers, worries about being accepted by her new family, and she even worries that she will be arrested and deported. The author is Guatemalan American and sprinkles Spanish words into the text with plenty of context clues. A wonderful book and a "must read." The childish looking cover will make this a harder sell to middle school/junior high students.

Ellen-Anita, Librarian 

When The Sky Falls by Phil Earle - ESSENTIAL

 When The Sky Falls by Phil Earle, 308 pages. Bloomsbury Publishing, 2022. $17

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

In England in 1940, Joseph is sent out of his town to go live with Mrs. F. while his dad serves in the war. Mrs. F. does not especially like children, and Joseph finds her to be cold and unfriendly. When bombs fall from the sky, they run and hide in the shelter outside. Usually Mrs. F. leaves and Joseph does not know where she goes. One time he decides to follow her. He discovers that she takes care of the animals still left in an abandoned zoo. Joseph wants to help, and soon he makes friends with the most dangerous animal in that zoo, an old silverback gorilla named Adonis. Will Joseph and Mr. F. find common ground and be friends? And will they be able to save all the animals from bombings and this horrible war?

A most awesome and amazing book. I loved it and I could not put it down. The relationship between Mrs. F and Joseph is very strained to start with but gets a little better. Joseph really takes to working at the zoo with all the animals, especially with Adonis. The story is warm hearted and at times heartbreaking. It is definitely a "must read." Characters are white British.

Ellen-Anita, Librarian 

Wild River by Rodman Philbrick - ESSENTIAL

Wild River by Rodman Philbrick, 189 pages. Scholastic Press, 2022. $12

Content: G (mild danger)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Five children have been chosen by their school to be on a leadership team: Daniel, Deke, Tony, Mia, and Imani. Together with two leaders they go from New Hampshire to Montana to go on a three-day white-water rafting trip sponsored by a billionaire inventor. When they are forced to change rivers because of low water, they are not able to notify anyone because there's no cell service. Early in the morning a flash flood separated the kids from their leaders. The kids do not know where they are, they have very little food and they hope to walk out of there till they come across some other campers. They start arguing and things get tense a scary.

I was on the edge of my seat and I could not put it down. I felt for the children alone in the unknown Montana wilderness. I rooted for them and felt bad for them when they made wrong decisions. It really was a wild ride with these kids through the wilderness. I highly recommend this book; it was absolutely awesome. Weeks after reading the book, I find myself thinking about those kids and the things that they did and the things that happened to them. if you like adventure, survival and gutsy kids, you will also love this book. The characters are described with a few different ethnicities.

Ellen-Anita, Librarian  

The Nature of Witches by Rachel Griffin - HIGH

The Nature of Witches by Rachel Griffin, 384 pages. Sourcebooks Fire. 2021. $10.

Language:  R (19 swears 1 'f'); Mature Content: PG-13 kissing and allusion to sex with no details. Violence:  PG death from uncontrollable magic in a flash of light 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL - HIGH 

17yo Clara is an Everwitch and belongs to a band of witches in modern-day Pennsyvania who keep nature from being destroyed by wildfires and erratic weather. Mr. Hart is her teacher and wants to help her master her abilities and conquer her fear of harming another after she hurt and killed her best friend Nikki and her parents. Clara changes her personality with the seasons and in summer she enjoys being in relationships, but in autumn she loses all feelings for the other person. After Mr. Hart is killed by her magic, Clara wants to give up and resign herself to a life of solitude so she can’t harm anyone else. When Sang arrives to help train her, she starts to believe in herself and hopes she will be able to finally control her magic. 

I love the quotes at the beginning of each chapter, sometimes they’re inspiring and sometimes they’re eye-opening. I like the internal struggles of the main character. I also like how the community eventually works together." The characters are white and Asian, with a bisexual main character. 

LynnDell Watson, Delta HS Librarian

Star Wars: Padawan by Kiersten White - OPTIONAL

Star Wars: Padawan by Kiersten White. 410 pages. Disney. 2022. $19.

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

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Obi-Wan is 16yo. Being a Jedi Padawan is exciting! It is full of fighting practice, thrilling missions, and caring Jedi Masters! Or at least, that is what Obi-Wan thinks it should be, but his experience seems to be anything but. He hates meditation, hasn't left the Jedi temple in forever, and cannot connect with Master Qui-Gon. When Obi-Wan finds a clue that leads him to travel to an uncharted planet with hostile vegetation and kids that both seem to use the Force and have no idea what it is, he will come to understand what being in balance with the Force really means and find his confidence in being a Padawan. 

Padawan was an unexpectedly pleasant book, and students who like Star Wars would undoubtedly enjoy it. It was rather slow and was certainly more about Obi-Wan's journey to self-discovery than an exciting Jedi adventure. There was basically no violence until the end, and even then it was non descriptive and had a low body count. This novel had an exceptional vocabulary, though, and I did enjoy the writing itself. On the planet he travels to, Obi-Wan is the only human so only species is mentioned. There is a She/They romantic relationship between the leader of the kids and a shapeshifter in the crew. While relationships are mentioned, no strictly heterosexual partnerships are shown or talked about. 

Sierra Finlinson 

Different: A Story of the Spanish Civil War By Mónica Montañés - ADVISABLE

Different: A Story of the Spanish Civil War By Mónica Montañés, illustrated by Eva Sábynchez Gómez 80 pages. PICTURE BOOKS. Eerdmans. 2022. $18. 9780802855985 

Content: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

9yo Paco must become the man of the house when his father is deported from Franco controlled Spain. 7yo Socorro is Paco’s sister. She lives for a time in the Pueblo with family, but because her father fled Spain, the nuns in the school punish her. She always works very hard and excels, as it makes the nuns mad. Paco stays in the family house with his mother and abuela, living in one small room while they rent the rest of the house to a British family. With no other income, the family is very poor and Paco is always hungry. For years they wait for the infrequent letters of their father hoping for the day they can join him. 

Different is an illustrated picture book perfect for elementary readers, but I think it would work in middle school as well. Beautifully illustrated with pictures reminiscent of 1930 art. The story, which alternates between Paco’s experience and his sister’s spans 8 years, and is based on the author's father and aunt.  I loved that it began with an author introduction referring readers to the glossary and sources, and I loved the short but thorough explanation of the Spanish Civil War included at the end. Having read Paco’s and Socorro’s story I was super interested in learning more. The family is Spanish. 

Lisa Librarian 

The Fairest Kind of Love by Crystal Cestari - OPTIONAL

The Fairest Kind of Love (Windy City Magic #3) by Crystal Cestari, 312 pages. Hyperion (Disney Book Group), 2019. $18.

Language: PG13 (20 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Amber (18yo) just wants a lazy last summer before culinary school, but she can’t have that without knowing why her magic is on the fritz and how to fix it. Looking for some answers, Amber goes to a dark magic shop and then a fairydust farm, somehow tangling herself up in more magical problems in the name of love. So much for movie marathons with her best friend and making out with her boyfriend.

Over the course of this trilogy, Amber struggles with her magic, showing that magic does not solve every problem. In this part of her journey, Amber struggles with her own identity, wondering if she can be herself without her matchmaking, and tries to help other magical beings see past their prejudices. While I would have liked to see more growth in her identity crisis, this conclusion is still a fun read and a satisfactory ending. And, as always, Amber introduced me to a new kind of dessert I’m excited to make and try for myself after googling a recipe.

The various races of characters are not described beyond human, witch, fairy, vampire, et cetera. The mature content rating is for mention of alcohol and making out, and the violence rating is for a fantasy battle scene and a fantastical death.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen