Let Us March On! by Yohuru Williams, illustrated by Xia Gordon - ADVISABLE

Let Us March On! by Yohuru Williams, illustrated by Xia Gordon. NON-FICTION, BIOGRAPHY PICTURE BOOK. Atheneum (Simon), 2024. $19. 9781665902786

Content: PG (gentle, but honest about the horrible things done to black people - back matter is more detailed)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL

James Weldon Johnson was a brilliant black lawyer, teacher and poet.  When he spoke people listened.  Terrible things were being done to the black communities, and he had a brilliant idea for a silent protest down a New York City street.  Ten thousand black children and adults marched silently with signs about equality and fairness, protesting hatred and violence while 25 thousand people watched.

Most of us are extremely saddened by the injustices of the past, and Williams relates a positive tale of a historic black hero.  The beautiful poem that he wrote is provided to us at the end of the story as well as more detailed information about the Silent Protest Parade. Simple yet visually strong illustrations strengthen the message.

PGPowers

The Loneliest Place by Laura Senf - ADVISABLE

The Loneliest Place (The Clackity #3) by Laura Senf, 348 pages. Atheneum (Simon), 2024. $18. 

Content: G (mild scares)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Since her last trip to the Dark Sun Side, Evie has known that she must go back.  She can keep her aunt in the dark, but other, more supernatural, friends know she is going and have gifted her with some important advice and items to aid her. The Clackity, however, is determined to thwart Evie’s search for her parents and somehow cause Evie to fail so that she will be his prisoner forever.

I have been highly invested in Evie’s story since the beginning. While #2 was a bit chaotic (not in a good way), #3 is much better.  And satisfying.  While not Stephen King level horror, but great suspense and thrills.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

I Will Follow by Eireann Corrigan - ESSENTIAL

I Will Follow by Eireann Corrigan, 272 pages. Scholastic, 2024. $14

Language: G (8 swears, 0  “f”); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG-13 (kidnapping, drugged, handcuffed)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

Shea Davidson is a TikTok influencer and she will tell you exactly how many followers she has. Nora is Shea’s number one fan and it seems to her Shea’s numbers and content are slipping.  Nora is sure she is the only one who can save Shea.  If only Shea knew that Nora existed, that is.  Nora has a plan - even if it does involve a mild case of kidnapping.

You know, you think that Nora’s behavior is so out there that it can’t be real.  But, fans have done really weird things to their object of fandom in the past and in our current day (think John Lennon, David Letterman, stalkers of all sorts now). Nora’s behavior is not so far-fetched. Corrigan has a good thriller here at a time my students are really absorbing the genre. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

A Bite Above the Rest by Christine Virnig, - OPTIONAL

A Bite Above the Rest by Christine Virnig, 307 pages. Aladdin (Simon), 2024. $18. 

Content: G (mild bullying)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

6th grader Caleb knows his new town is weird - who wants to dress-up in a Halloween costume all year long? His new best friend Tia loves it, but she is willing to believe Caleb when he thinks there is something very fishy about the whole town. Are werewolves and vampires real?  Are they running town hall and other stores? Caleb has an idea for exposing them once and for all and making Samhain safe for normals.

I am not fully invested here. Caleb seems to be afraid of the creatures around him just to be afraid of them - there is no evidence of mysterious disappearances or deaths around Samhain - which sounds like prejudice to me. No real scare factor here, either. The only bright spot is the very last chapter - a set up for book #2, where intolerant Caleb may get his comeuppance!  That I am looking forward to.

Caleb is white on the cover; Tia is depicted as Black. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Gentleman’s Confession by Anneka R. Walker - OPTIONAL

The Gentleman’s Confession by Anneka R. Walker, 288 pages. Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2024. $18.

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

BUYING ADVISORY: ADULTS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Independent Jemma (23yo) has never needed a man, but, when the grandmother who raised her is dying and makes Jemma promise to get married and fall in love, Jemma isn’t opposed to the idea. She doesn’t want to be alone. So Jemma asks the town’s meddling matrons to find her a match, but it will still take courage to accept it.

If you want awkward-but-funny encounters, tearful truths that are said but not heard, and pieces that fall unrealistically and perfectly into place, it is all here. Repressed feelings and self sacrifice permeate the pages of Jemma’s story—on both sides of the romance—and the melodrama is endless. Overall, it was a fun read with a happily ever after.

The characters are English. The mature content rating is for kissing.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Soul of the Stone by Sharina Harris - OPTIONAL

Soul of the Stone (American Slayer Society #2) by Sharina Harris, 300 pages. Entangled Teen, 2024. $16 (paperback)

Language: R (122 swears, 4 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (implied sex; Violence: PG-13 (bloody stabbing)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SOME

19yo Raven, now known as Texas, is dealing with a powerful stone full of one hundred souls. These souls talk to Texas and drive her slightly crazy. Her mission is to get the tablet which will help end the evil Alexander once and for all. The souls want to help her with her mission but she gets pulled into the Underworld and has to face Egyptian Gods who will weigh her heart. If she’s found worthy she may just survive.

I like the fact that there’s much less swearing in this sequel so there’s more room for character development and world building. I enjoyed the main conflict with Egyptian mythology. I found the Underworld very interesting.

Ethnicity is predominantly Black.  Khamari is Jamaican.

LynnDell Watson, DHS Librarian, Delta, Utah

https://amzn.to/3Nk28Rk

Yours From the Tower by Sally Nicholls - OPTIONAL

Yours From the Tower by Sally Nicholls, 297 pages.  Walker Books (Candlewick), 2023. $18. 

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

It’s 1896 and Poly, Sophia, and Tirzah have left their boarding school, embarking upon very different lives now that they are home. Sophia is living a rich life in London, looking for a husband on the Marriage Mart. Tirzah has been sent to a remote part of Scotland to live as unpaid help for a grumpy, elderly grandmother.  And Polly is working as a teacher at a poor, yet loving orphanage in the north of England. Through their letters, the heartache and drama in each of their lives unfolds. 

No murder, no sexy romance (though there IS romance involved) - do teens read heartfelt historical fiction any more?  I thoroughly enjoyed this peek into the girls’ lives and life in England at the end of the 1800’s - when life was so differently paced than our lives now.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Huda F Cares? by Huda Fahmy - ESSENTIAL

Huda F Cares? by Huda Fahmy, 194 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. Dial (Penguin), 2023. $25. 9780593532799

Language: G (0 swears, 0  “f”); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (racial slurs, non-sexual consentless touching)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

A family of five girls is a lot - especially during the summer. While the youngest is off studying for her Quran intensive, the other four are headed for a 24-hour trip to DisneyWorld. Bonding with your sisters is not so easy, as Huda is more than ready to show us. Add on top of that the prejudice the girls encounter, even at the Happiest Place on Earth. 

I love Huda’s no-nonsense look at life. Her sister drama is spot on - showing the “I can harass my sister, but you’d better not touch her” aspect very well. I love Huda!

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Long Way Around by Anne Nesbet - OPTIONAL

The Long Way Around by Anne Nesbet, 256 pages. Candlewick, 2024. $19. 

Content: G (mild danger)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Three cousins 12yo Owen, 11yo Vivian, and 8yo Amy are on a camping trip with their parents.  The one night they are allowed to camp alone, an earthquake strikes and they are cut-off from the parents’ campsite.  The trio will have to go the long way around, confronting danger in the forest, but also the emotional baggage they are each dealing with from personal traumas.

Nesbet tries to do too much here.  Besides having the danger from 3 pre-teens being alone in the wilderness, she injects a magical realism through the kids’ personal stories - it would have been enough to have one of them with emotional turmoil - all 3 is overload. I was distracted and then bored.

All of the characters are white.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Telephone in the Tree by Alison McGhee - OPTIONAL

The Telephone of the Tree by Alison McGhee, 196 pages. Rocky Pond (Penguin), 2024. $18. 

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

10yo Ayla misses her best friend Kiri something fierce.  If Kiri would just return home, everything would be better. One day Ayla finds an old-fashioned telephone sitting in the branches of her favorite tree.  What could it be for? Then people start coming to the tree telephone to talk to their loved ones who are dead - what? 

Definitely, a book a therapist might prescribe for a child dealing with grief.  Or a book a teacher will read aloud to a whole class. Not so sure students will flock to this on their own. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

They Saved the Stallions by Deborah Hopkinson - ADVISABLE

They Saved the Stallions by Deborah Hopkinson, 163 pages. Scholastic, 2024.  $10 (paperback)

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL; MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

During World War II, the Lipizzaner horses of Austria were in constant danger - first from bombing, then from being conscripted into the war once Hilter seized Austria, and then the stallions were in a different country from the mares and foals. It took the school’s dedicated director and a daring group of American soldiers to keep all of the Lipizzaners safe, preserving 400 years of tradition.

Hopkinson always does meticulous research when she presents a book. The size of this one (under 200 pages) means that it may find a wider audience than some of her larger works. As an adult, I loved learning about this aspect of WWII - and students who love horses will too. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Spy School Goes Wild by Stuart Gibbs - ESSENTIAL

Spy School Goes Wild by Stuart Gibbs, 307 pages. Simon and Schuster, 2024. $19. 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

How did their inept Spy School principal track Ben and the others to their remote Alaskan hideout? It doesn’t matter much when it turns out that Murray Hill has escaped prison again and is teaming up with Ashley for another dastardly crime. Only Ben is going, and so only Ben is the one walking into a trap. Ben may have hated all of the survival training he’s been forced through these last months, but that training is exactly what he will need to stay alive.

Dare I hope this is the last time we will see Murray Hill? I sure hope so. If it weren’t for Gibbs’s commitment to Ben having a single arch nemesis, I would personally enjoy his adventures so much more. Plenty of danger, fast-thinking, and great friends to come to the rescue. 

Ben and his friends default white.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Spirit Sleuths: How Magicians and Detectives Exposed the Ghost Hoaxes by Gail Jarrow - ESSENTIAL

Spirit Sleuths: How Magicians and Detectives Exposed the Ghost Hoaxes by Gail Jarrow, 173 pages. NON-FICTION Calkins Creek (Astra/Boyds Mill), 2024. $25. 

Content: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS, ADULT - ESSENTIAL 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

In the mid-1800s, in upstate New York, rapping sounds in an old home were attributed to the presence of ghosts. A pair of teen aged sisters claimed to be able to communicate with the dead and Spiritualism was born. But were the clairvoyants and mediums real? Some people believed others did not. Fake mediums put on elaborate shows, making people believe their departed loved ones were trying to reach them, and swindled many people out of lots of money. Harry Houdini (the magician and escape artist) and others made unmasking these fakers their life's work. 

I love Gail Jarrow's books so very much. I can't put them down. Well researched, well told and I know it will be well read.  Spirit Sleuths kept me on the edge of my seat, and I couldn't help but tell about it to anyone who would listen. While most of the book is about the 1850s - 1920s, Jarrow includes a look at 21st-century psychics and mediums as well. Includes a timeline, glossary, and sites to find out more. I even loved the author's note. An essential buy for a school library. I have all her books.

Lisa Librarian 

Hometown Vendetta by Traci Hunter Abramson - ADVISABLE

Hometown Vendetta (Luke Steele #1) by Traci Hunter Abramson, 320 pages. Shadow Mountain, 2024. $28.

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

BUYING ADVISORY: ADULTS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Amberlyn is intimately involved in tragedy as she works every day as an FBI profiler, but this last domestic terrorism act becomes more personal when it kills her best friend. She gets pulled into a meeting to help update the president, and his military aide, Luke, helps them make a breakthrough on the case. Now Amberlyn and Luke have to work together—hoping beyond hope that the other doesn’t remember when they first met—by going undercover in the last place Luke wants to be: home.

Abramson keeps readers on their toes—anxious about terrorists, seemingly random accidents, new characters with too convenient stories, shoot outs, and a little forced-proximity fake dating. Once I started reading, there was no stopping, and I enjoyed every step of the journey. I’m excited to visit these characters again in the next book.

The majority of characters are implied White. The mature content rating is for alcohol use, mentions of drugs, illegal activity, and kissing. The violence rating is for gun and bomb use, terrorism, and murder.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

There Goes the Neighborhood by Jade Adia - OPTIONAL

There Goes the Neighborhood by Jade Adia, 415 pages. Hyperion (Disney) 2023 $19.00 

Language: R (100+ swears 99 'f'); Mature Content: PG13 (making out) Violence: PG13 (fights, knives, a murder) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

15yo Rhea and her friends Zeke and Malachi live in South LA. Local shops are starting to sell to trendy boutique business that cater to a wealthier demographic - their neighborhood is experiencing gentrification. When Zeke's landlord sends an eviction notice (he wants to upgrade the apartments and raise the rent) the kids decide to scare off the newcomers by inventing a fake local gang and flooding social media with "sightings," graffiti, and rumors. The gang doesn't really exist, but when things start to escalate, and a murder is attributed to SOSI, the kids know they are in real trouble. 

Adia was given the John Steptoe (Coretta Scott King) Award for new talent in 2024. She's a great writer. The kids are believable, and the situations tragic. I was on the edge of my seat. It's not so much about gangs as it is community. Rhea's community takes care of each other. I love the dynamics - the friendship with a new girl; Rhea hasn't really had a girl friend and it's great watching it develop, and the changing relationship with Malachi is so real - can friends be more than friends? Very high swear count, but the context makes it necessary. Rhea is Black, her friends are Black and Hispanic, the community is multicultural. 

Lisa Librarian 

K is in Trouble by Gary Clement - OPTIONAL

K is in Trouble by Gary Clement, 216 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Little, Brown, 2024. $25. 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (unsafe situations for a child) 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

K is a nice boy, he seems to want to do the right thing, but adults don't see it that way, he gets punished at school, picked up for loitering in a train station when he was lost, and is even tricked into releasing a fish back into the river. K is always in trouble. 

I had the same trouble enjoying this as I did Lemony Snicket's "Unfortunate Events" series. It's in the same vein - things just keep getting worse despite K's best efforts. His parents (especially his father) are short and impatient with him, and other adults are unreasonable. Poor kid. I didn't see the humor, maybe children will. There's a magical element - bugs and animals can talk to him. K is White. 

Lisa Librarian 

We Are Big Time by Hena Khan, illustrated by Safiya Zerrougui - ADVISABLE

We Are Big Time by Hena Khan, illustrated by Safiya Zerrougui, 234 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Random House, 2024. $14 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (some name calling)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Just a couple of months into her freshman year, Aliya's family moves from Florida to Milwaukee to be closer to their grandparents. While she's excited to go to a Muslim school along with her two brothers, she is disappointed to leave her friends and her County Rec. basketball team. But she enrolls in the new school in time to tryout for their girl's team - they have a new coach who has plans to turn these girls into quality high school athletes. 

Girl's basketball - how fun with some nice ballgame action. The team was unique in that there aren't many Muslim girl's basketball teams. Their opponents underestimated them, but they still had to work very hard to become a good team. The family dynamics are fun, Dada talks about Kareen Abdul Jabar. 

Lisa Librarian 

Just Like Jesse Owens by Ambassador Andrew Young as told to Paula Young Shelton, illustrated by Gordon C. James - ESSENTIAL

Just Like Jesse Owens by Ambassador Andrew Young as told to Paula Young Shelton, illustrated by Gordon C. James. BIOGRAPHY PICTURE BOOK. Scholastic, 2022. $18. 9780545554657

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: MANY

I just finished the book The Boys in the Boat and this story is set also during the 1936 Berlin Olympics in which Jesse Owens ran track. It is the time of segregation in America - whites go into the front of the theater and blacks go upstairs through the back, even though they pay the same money.  Andrew Young, the main character, plays with boys of both colors even though one of his white friend's aunt gave him a nickel not to play with the "colored boys."  Andrew sees people in his aunt's neighborhood “heiling” Hitler and he is confused why they are  raising their arm like that.  His Dad explains Hitler's view on anyone not of the Aryan race.  Later when he goes to the theater to see the newsreel of the Olympics he sees Hitler on the screen and then later he sees Jesse Owens one of the greatest track Olympians winning gold medal after gold medal.  He is inspired that Jesse proved Hitler wrong and did it all with grace.  He is inspired by Jesse and decides that he will fight for civil rights using nonviolence just like Jesse did. 

James’s  illustrations are breathtaking done in oil pastels.  The story is inspiring for anyone at any age.  It deals with racism in a very understandable and classy way.  The story ended abruptly for me.  At the end of the book the author and the illustrator complete the story giving clarity.  I would have loved some of those facts put in the story to finish it up and tie it in a neat little bow. The ethnicity is widely diverse in this book because of the topic of civil rights.

Emilee-Teacher Librarian

The Line in the Sand by Thao Lam - ADVISABLE

The Line in the Sand by Thao Lam. WORDLESS PICTURE BOOK. Owl Kids Books, 2022. $20. 9781771475709

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: MANY

A monster draws a line in the sand.  What does it mean? As other monsters are playing on the beach they start to notice this strange line drawn in the sand.  

Lam has created an interesting book about the power of pictures, how we communicate as a society, and our interpretation of what happens.  This book would be a great addition to any library shelf. The monsters are very creative and illustrated in collage art.  It's a story everyone can relate to.   I love that it encourages the reader to think about communication, conflict, and the lines we all draw, whether intentional or not. 

Emilee-Teacher Librarian

The Little Book of Joy by Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu, and Rafael Lopez - ESSENTIAL

The Little Book of Joy by Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu, illustrated by Rafael Lopez. PICTURE BOOK. Random House Kids, 2022. $19. 9780593484234

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: MANY

The Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu were friends for many years.  This is a companion book to their nonfiction book The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World. This children's version is filled with colorful enchanting illustrations about the power of joy.  Joy can be found even when challenging things happen.

I love that 2 men from very different religions are best friends.  They briefly give their backgrounds and how they became friends.  They do a beautiful job of reminding the reader to look for joy in the journey.

This book is ethnically diverse.  Tutu is an archbishop in East Africa and the Dahli Lama is a Tibetan monk.  The illustrator paints a multiple diversity of cultures.

Emilee-Teacher Librarian

Rewind by Lisa Graff - OPTIONAL

Rewind by Lisa Graff, 248 pages. Philomel (Penguin), 2023. $18.

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Every June, McKinley’s hometown celebrates a different year in history - this year it is 1993 - back to when her parents were teens! McKinley even has the perfect 90’s outfit for the fashion show.  When she finds herself back in the real 1993, she is shocked by what she finds - the adults she knows are totally different people than they were as kids. And McKinley has to help someone make a change in order to get back to her own time - but what and who is it supposed to be?

As time travel books go, Graff has kept this one pretty simple - even though McKinley does dive into the mind-stretching part of the concept right at the end. Watching McKinley’s adults as teens is quite funny - especially the adult who wants to lock her in a room for the whole time she is there.  While I enjoyed the trip back, I’d rather have a historical fiction book about the time period, rather than a time travel book dipping into it.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Underdogs of Upson Downs by Craig Silvey - ESSENTIAL

The Underdogs of Upson Downs by Craig Silvey, 307 pages. Alfred A. Knopf (Random), 2024. $18

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: MANY

11yo Annie Shearer likes to fix things, but she can't figure out how to help her parents save their sheep farm. There is a drought in Upson Downs, Australia and to make matters worse, Earl Robert-Barren is keeping all of the water to himself. But when she and her dog Runt enter a canine agility contest, Annie thinks she can save the farm with the prize money. There is only one problem, Runt will not perform in front of a crowd. Along with the support of her quirky family and new friends, Annie works to find a solution.

This wonderful story is about family, supporting those you love, and being yourself. Annie and her family also learn the importance of following your own path. I really enjoyed this book.

All of the characters are assumed to be white.

Reviewer: A. Snow, Librarian

Iceberg by Jennifer Nielsen - ESSENTIAL

 

Iceberg by Jennifer Nielsen, 352 pages. Scholastic Press, 2023. $13. 

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG; (bullying)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS, HS - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL

12yo Hazel is traveling to New York to work at a garment factory with her aunt. Her mother is sending her there to help earn money for the family. She’s in awe of the decadence and size of the Titanic and she has many questions that she wants to answer, so she can write about the ship when she arrives at her destination. Hazel dreams of becoming a journalist and the more she learns about the Titanic, the more questions she has. She makes friends, learns about her own priorities and also discovers a theft in progress.

Excellent Titanic story. I enjoyed the insight into life and social classes of 1912. The book departs many wise anecdotes throughout the telling of the story. Hazel has a lot of curiosity and asks intelligent, interesting and helpful questions. The mystery and suspense make the book even better.

The ethnicity is mixed. LynnDell Watson, DHS Librarian, Delta, Utah

First Test by Tamora Pierce - OPTIONAL

First Test (Protector of the Small #1) by Tamora Pierce, 142 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. Random House, 2024. $25. 9780307931566

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

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

While Lady Alanna trained in secret as a page and became a female knight, Kel is determined to openly train as a girl with the boys. While some of the pages are indifferent, a couple of them are antagonistic to Kel, while they are also busy bullying the other pages, too. Kel is determined to stay the course and prove that this girl, at least, can hold her own.

I hope that the graphic novel version will encourage some students to seek out the originals and read the novels. I don’t feel this graphic novel does the original justice - so much is missing, that it makes me sad. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Thirteenth Child by Erin A. Craig - OPTIONAL

 

The Thirteenth Child by Erin A. Craig, 512 pages. Delacorte Press (Random), 2024. $16

Language: PG-13 (14 swears, 0 “f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (fondling); Violence: PG-13 (bloody deaths)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: MANY

19yo Hazel is the thirteenth child in her family and treated like she’s not wanted by anyone except her brother Bertie who is one year older. When Hazel is twelve, her godfather takes her so she can train to become a great healer while Bertie is sold to a temple to pay off their father’s debts. Hazel learns that her duties as a healer also include helping people pass onto their deaths as gently as possible. She feels that this is a curse and not a blessing. When she’s nineteen, Hazel has become the healer of the royal family after she saved the king’s life from a plague; she was supposed to move him onto death but didn’t want his children to be orphans. Now that the king feels well, he is becoming an unpredictable, angry tyrant and Hazel knows she made the wrong choice by healing him. Will she be able to make this right before he destroys the kingdom?

I loved every bit of this story! Amazing character development and wonderful world building. Hazel is strong and kindhearted.

Hazel and her family are white. Merrick, Hazel’s godfather is obsidian skinned, Hazel’s friend Kieron has chestnut skin.

LynnDell Watson, DHS Librarian, Delta, Utah

The (Mostly) True Story of Cleopatra’s Needle by Dan Gutman - OPTIONAL

The (Mostly) True Story of Cleopatra’s Needle by Dan Gutman, 181 pages. Holiday House, 2024. $19

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SOME

The journey of Cleopatra’s Needle from Egypt to Central Park, New York, is a journey of inches, but also of thousands of years and miles. The boy knows his mom wants to tell him the Needle’s history, but until she speaks with the stories of kids he can relate to, the history is just not that interesting. Once he sees how kids’ lives were affected and involved, the history feels more alive and he becomes invested in the story.

In his back story, Gutman reveals that every kid in his story is made up, which didn’t endear the book to me anymore - I was only mildly invested in the reading. Gutman tries really hard to bring this historical story to life. Only a few kids will become personally invested in it. 

Cindy, MS Library Teacher

eMortal by Steve Schafer - ADVISABLE

eMortal by Steve Schafer, 314 pages. Koehler Books, 2024. $30

Language: PG-13 (34 swears, 0 ’f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL

17yo Liv enters a competition to create an AI character that can solve a riddle. Liv’s character Breck seems fairly intelligent and when she writes a code that will allow him to sleep (rest and reboot) the competition leader takes notice. Along with the stress of wanting to win the AI competition and internship, Liv tries to help her mother revive the family toy store that belonged to her grandfather. This becomes more difficult than creating a character and writing code. She and her mother struggle to see each other’s point of view and this just causes arguments and frustration. With perseverance, will Liv win and be able to help her mom or will it all be too much?

I normally struggle with enjoying science fiction but this is a fun read! I love the lead into the ending and the ending itself. I enjoyed the humor and the realistic characters. I admired the perseverance of the characters.

Ethnicity falls to white.

LynnDell Watson, DHS Librarian, Delta, Utah

The Frindle Files by Andrew Clements - ESSENTIAL

The Frindle Files by Andrew Clements, 198 pages. Random House, 2024. $18.

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: MANY

Josh’s ELA teacher is such a dinosaur!  Not only are no computers allowed in the class, but also homework has to be written out by hand! Rummaging through the family junk drawer, he finds a pen, but it is labeled “Frindle”.  What? With some quick online research, Josh begins to wonder – is his throwback ELA teacher this same kid who tried to shake up the world with the Frindle? Josh is sure he can use this to his advantage.

Sure, I read the original Frindle when it came out in 1996.  Amusing, but it never stuck in my head.  Frindle Files, however, is an absolute winner for me. A definite reread! Mr. N. as Josh’s antagonist is sneakier and bolder than Nick’s teacher ever was.  Maybe, as an adult now, that’s what I like about it.

Cindy, MS Library Teacher

The Great Cool Ranch Dorito in the Sky by Josh Galarza - OPTIONAL

The Great Cool Ranch Dorito in the Sky by Josh Galarza, 320 pages. Henry Holt (Macmillan Children's), 2024. $18

Language: R (214 swears, 72 f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (underage drinking, mention of self-pleasure, mention of drug use); Violence: PG (fighting)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SOME

16yo Brett lives in Tucson with his best friend, Reed, since his adoptive mother became terminally ill. He’s trying to hide the fact that he has an eating disorder and that he has begun to purge after eating. Despite Brett’s best efforts, Reed figures out what he’s doing and tries to intervene. Somehow Brett’s secret gets posted on social media and he’s horribly embarrassed. Many classmates approach him to let him know they’re dealing with issues too and he might be able to handle it better knowing he’s not alone.

Intelligent and inspiring quotes given from side characters. The adults in Brett’s life gave him great advice/therapy. Too much swearing detracts from the story. The book is overly focused on being progressive and “woke” and it became tiresome because it also takes away from the story. Wonderfully helpful resources at the end of the book for people dealing with food and/or body issues.

Brett is Mexican American. Most of the characters are white but some have brown skin.

LynnDell Watson, DHS Librarian, Delta, Utah

How it Happened: Skateboards – the cool stories and facts behind every trick by Paige Towler - ADVISABLE

How it Happened: Skateboards – the cool stories and facts behind every trick by Paige Towler. Union Square, 2024. $19. 9781454945024

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL

Towler takes us in a fact-filled, but simple, look at the history of skateboarding – from the early days of surfing (2000 BCE) onto the present day.  Towler even-handedly looks at early innovators – both male and female – and works hard to give credit to the right people in each instance. I love that Patti McGee, the skateboard handstander, is even included!  With four books in the series, this set is ripe for a mini display of its own.

Cindy, MS Library Teacher

Masquerade of the Heart by Katy Rose Pool - OPTIONAL

Masquerade of the Heart by Katy Rose Pool, 364 pages. Henry Holt (Macmillan), 2024. $17

Language: R (39 swears, 8 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (kissing); Violence: PG-13 (bloody death)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL

18yo Marlow Marlow watches as 18yo Adrius announces his engagement and her heart breaks. She knows that Adrius has to marry someone from a rich and powerful family to appease his own family but it hurts all the same. Marlow wants to stop the person who cursed Adrius because that person is wanting to control everyone and everything in Caraza, just as Adrius was controlled by the curse. Marlow gets help from Adrius and a few of their most trusted and clever acquaintances. Together they work together to hopefully put a stop to the tyrant before he takes over.

I enjoyed the intensity of the conflict between good and evil. The curse and the story behind it are so interesting. I love the ending!

The ethnicity falls to white.

LynnDell Watson, DHS Librarian, Delta, Utah

The Queen of Ocean Parkway by Sarvenaz Tash - OPTIONAL

The Queen of Ocean Parkway by Sarvenaz Tash, 232 pages. Random House, 2024. $18

Language: G (0 swears, 0 "F"); Mature Content: G; Violence:  G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SOME

11yo Roya has a secret podcast that centers around the people of her Brooklyn apartment building (names are changed to protect the innocent), where her mother is the superintendent. One day she hears a couple in the laundry room talking about a curse and the next day one of them is missing. Roya, along with Amin, whose family just moved in. decide to investigate.  Little do they know that they will be led to Coney Island and back through time – and only the two kids can solve the mystery.

While a perfectly serviceable mystery, it doesn’t hold the reader’s attention in a tight grip. The apartment family is an international cast of characters.  The missing woman and her wife Stephanie bring in a mild LGBT touch. Wanted to love it, but just couldn’t.

Cindy, MS Library Teacher

Eyes on the Ice by Anna Rosner - OPTIONAL

Eyes on the Ice by Anna Rosner, 180 pages, Groundwood Books, 2024. $15.

Language: G (0 swear, 0 "F"); Mature Content: G; Violence:  PG (gun brandished, threats)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SOME

In 1963 Czechoslavakia, 10yo Lukas and 12yo Denys are hockey mad. Though they don’t have the best equipment, their talent shines through.  They are offered places on a prestigious team – but in their Communist-controlled country, everything comes with a price. Then their father is arrested and they know that somehow, if their father returns to them they must escape.

Rosner takes some known historical facts of actual escapes to weave together her story. If you have a student who loves hockey and is also willing to read historical fiction, add this to your library.

Cindy, MS Library Teacher

Lie Until It's True by Jessie Weaver - OPTIONAL

Lie Until It's True by Jessie Weaver, 320 pages. Disney, 2024. $10

Language:  R (98 swears,  0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG (kiss); Violence: PG-13 (bloody death)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS -  OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SOME

Two separate murder suspects are on 16yo Amanda’s mind, her exonerated sister Cora and her art teacher from kid camp. Cora was a suspect in the murder of a social media influencer. The art teacher is the suspect in the murder of a very rich man at the Summit hotel. Amanda visits her friends in Summit. She wants to be a better sister to Cora and spend more time with her best friends, Cole, Mallory, and Vince. Cole and Mal are dating and Vince is dealing with the fact that his mother, the art teacher, has been arrested as a suspect in the murder of an art dealer. Cole shows his true colors by manipulating his friends to go ahead with approving the haunted or homicide show for the hotel that will televise the investigation and publicize everything about their lives, which turns the situation into a disaster.

I liked the double mystery storyline that grew into a possible haunting. The dynamic characters were interesting. The buildup and unraveling of the mysteries were fun to read.

Vince has brown skin. Amanda, Cole and Mallory fall to white.

LynnDell Watson, DHS Librarian, Delta, Utah

Casters and Crowns by Elizabeth Lowham - ADVISABLE

Casters and Crowns by Elizabeth Lowham, 384 pages. Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2024. $21.

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

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

In attempting to prove to her father that she, as the crown princess, is ready for more responsibility, Aria (18yo) goes to discuss peace with the Dowager Countess Morton without telling anyone. Their meeting goes well—until the dowager countess reveals that it was all a lie. Aria does all she can to hide the curse placed on her, but how is she supposed to defeat magic when all she knows is to fear it?

Filled with beautiful world-building, life-or-death stakes, magical abilities, and the constant flinging of creative insults between brothers, every page was a delight. Perfectionism haunts several of the characters, highlighting different avenues of dealing with mistakes and consequences. The conclusion is fitting, though I would have loved a promise of another book with these characters I have adored.

The majority of characters are implied White. The mature content rating is for alcohol use, mild innuendo, and kissing. The violence rating is for assault, fantasy violence, and mentions of murder.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang - OPTIONAL

A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang, 336 pages. St. Martin’s Press, 2024. $32.

Language: PG (5 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: R

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

From a poor family in a kingdom ravaged by war with the Wu, Xishi (20yo) washes raw silk and wishes that she could hold the Wu accountable for their wrongs—especially for the wrongful death of her younger sister. Fanli (22yo), the Yue king’s minister, asks Xishi to be a tribute to the Wu king and a spy for the Yue. In this new battle, Xishi’s overwhelming beauty will be her sword.

Based on Chinese legend, Xishi’s story is hauntingly beautiful. While Xishi is sent to the Wu king as a concubine, there are no vulgar scenes, and it’s even implied that sex is never involved in their relationship. The pressure of Xishi’s situation hangs over readers with little levity to offer contrast, making it hard to put down through to the last page.

The characters are implied Chinese. The mature content rating is for alcohol use, mentions of trafficking, partial nudity, kissing, and innuendo. The violence rating is for assault, blood and gore, mentions of child abuse, corpses, battle scenes, suicide, and murder.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Across the Star-Kissed Sea by Arlem Hawks - OPTIONAL

Across the Star-Kissed Sea by Arlem Hawks, 288 pages. Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2024. $18.

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

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Her father’s criminal acts tainted the family, forcing May (19yo) and her mother to join the workforce to provide for themselves. When May’s employer dies, her options are to become a scullery maid in the home her mother works in or else take the future into her own hands. May applies for the position of lady’s maid to a naval captain’s wife, which leads to more discoveries about herself and her heart than about the sea and the world.

A little adventure, a little swashbuckling action, and a lot of romance hindered by misunderstandings and secrets are in store for readers here. May’s story is ultimately about trust—forgiveness of others and self, navigating hurt and vulnerability, and the courage to choose trust anyway. Sometimes we ourselves are our biggest obstacles to overcome, and happiness awaits our efforts to try again.

The majority of characters are English, though there are a handful of French and Spanish characters mentioned. The mature content rating is for alcohol use, mentions of harlots, partial nudity, kissing, and innuendo. The violence rating is for assault, mild blood and gore, and naval battle scenes.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Manga Biographies: Charles M. Schulz by Yuzuru Kuki - OPTIONAL

Manga Biographies: Charles M. Schulz by Yuzuru Kuki, 168 pages. BIOGRAPHY, GRAPHIC NOVEL. Udon Entertainment, 2024. $14.

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

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Charles “Sparky” Schulz developed a love for the funnies in the newspaper as he read them with his parents as a kid. As he grew older, his dream to become a cartoonist never faded—even while battling self-doubt and facing rejection letters.

The biography of Schulz tells the story of a dedicated man who had insecurities and didn’t let those insecurities keep him from fighting to live his dream. He seems to be one of those genuinely good people you root for and sometimes doubt exists in nonfiction. Visually, the book is occasionally confusing because the story’s panels are supposed to be followed in the traditional manga right-to-left format but the Peanuts cartoons added are still in their original left-to-right format, forcing readers to switch back and forth as they read.

The majority of depicted characters are White. The mature content rating is for alcohol use.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen 

The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco by Michelle Chouinard - OPTIONAL

The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco by Michelle Chouinard, 336 pages. Minotaur Books (St. Martin’s Press), 2024. $18.

Language: R (59 swears, 1 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL, ADULTS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Being the granddaughter of a serial killer has always colored Capri’s life—especially since she believes he was innocent. Researching her grandfather’s case led to other serial killers and murder cases, which eventually inspired Capri (49yo) to start a tour company that focused on murder spots around San Francisco. But she wasn’t the only one to be inspired. A copycat killer has started murdering more women, placing a glaring spotlight on Capri and her family once more.

Capri digs into both the open serial killer case and her grandfather’s closed case, tangling everything together and keeping readers on edge for two big reveals. Riding the line between helping protect herself and her daughter without impeding the police investigation makes for some amusing antics, and Chouinard kept me engaged the entire time. Plus, there are enough truths mixed in with the story that I’m on my way to being convinced I need to visit San Francisco—but only during daylight hours.

The majority of characters are implied White, though Chinese, Indian, and Latino characters are mentioned as well as a couple of LGBT characters. The mature content rating is for alcohol use; illegal activity; mentions of drugs, prostitutes, sexual harassment, rape, and sex; groping;  nudity; and innuendo. The violence rating is for blood and gore, assault, mentions of corpses and suicide, gun use, and murder.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

The Darkness Within Us by Tricia Levenseller - OPTIONAL

The Darkness Within Us by Tricia Levenseller, 336 pages. Feiwel (Macmillan), 2024. $19

Language: R (62 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (kissing and off-page sex); Violence: R (bloody deaths)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL

19yo Chrysantha is a beast. She and her sister Alessandra are in constant competition and their father expects both of them to keep him out of bankruptcy by marrying someone rich. While Alessandra married the Shadow King, Chrysantha married an elderly Duke but she ends him within two months after their marriage. Since the Duke has no heirs, she inherits everything and thoroughly enjoys redecorating the manor and revamping her wardrobe. She also gives the servants raises and shows them appreciation for their hard work. Eryx arrives, claiming he’s the Duke’s grandson and turns life in the manor upside down. Eryx has a secret and Chrysantha isn’t going to let him get away with ruining her plans without finding out what he’s hiding.

The contradictions of Chrysantha’s character and actions are entertaining. Eryx is an interesting character and I enjoyed the unknown that went along with his secret. I liked Chrysantha’s feistiness. Pale ivory, peach, dark beige, ebony skinned, deep obsidian skin tone, golden skin are all mentioned.

LynnDell Watson, DHS Librarian, Delta, Utah 

Wisteria by Adalyn Grace - MANY

Wisteria by Adalyn Grace, 432 pages. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2024. $15

Language: PG-13 (23 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: R (on page sex); Violence: PG (fighting)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: MANY

21yo Blythe is marrying Aris, Fate, because he saved her father from being falsely accused of murder. Neither are happy about the marriage but their wedding rings force them to be together whenever they venture apart. To show Blythe’s father that they’re happily married, Aris creates a beautiful palace and village to convince him of the comfort and love the two of them share. The couple starts to enjoy each other’s company when Chaos, Solanine, arrives to wreak havoc. Chaos causes plagues and tragedies. Aris and Blythe must work together to stop disaster from happening. The prose is gorgeous! I enjoy reading what Blythe’s imagination creates. Humorous banter and fun world building make this book even better. Beautiful descriptions of scenery. Ethnicity falls to white.

LynnDell Watson, DHS Librarian, Delta, Utah

Garden of the Cursed by Katy Rose Pool - OPTIONAL

Garden of the Cursed by Katy Rose Pool, 352 pages. Henry Holt (Macmillan), 2023. $12

Language: R (54 swears, 5 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG (kiss); Violence: PG-13 (bloody death)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL

18yo Marlow is a curse breaker who is helping her past crush, Adrius. Adrius has been given a curse that forces him to obey any orders given to him. He only trusts Marlow when he doesn’t even trust his own family. Adrius comes from a rich, powerful family who values money and power above all. When Marlow discovers who placed the curse on Adrius, she also reveals a secret that will change her life forever.

The mystery behind the curse is fun to watch unravel. Marlow’s perseverance is admirable. The secrets revealed are intriguing and make me excited for the sequel, Masquerade of the Heart Ethnicity is predominantly white. Adrius has warm brown skin. Corrine has dark skin.

LynnDell Watson, DHS Librarian, Delta, Utah 

Portrait of a Shadow by Meriam Metoui - OPTIONAL

Portrait of a Shadow by Meriam Metoui, 256 pages. Henry Holt (Macmillan), 2024. $18

Language: R (11 swears, 2 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG (kissing); Violence: PG (fighting)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL

18yo Mae is desperate to find her missing sister Inez. Her parents want to move on from the pain and accept that Inez will never come home, but Mae sees how their marriage is crumbling and how they’ve changed since Inez went missing. She goes to New York under the guise of cleaning out Inez’ apartment in search of any possible clues to her whereabouts. She meets Dev, a neighbor of Inez’, and he seems just as interested in finding Inez as Mae is. So they venture out together in search of a mysterious white painting that Inez has many notes of research on. What Mae discovers changes both of their lives forever!

The alternating timelines build suspense. I like how dedicated Mae is to her sister. I’m fascinated with Dev and his background. Dev is from India and Mae from Africa.

LynnDell Watson, DHS Librarian, Delta, Utah 

A Window into the Ocean Twilight Zone by Michelle Cusolito - OPTIONAL

A Window into the Ocean Twilight Zone by Michelle Cusolito, 140 pages. NON-FICTION. Charlesbridge Publishing, 2024. $19. 9781623543020

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SOME

An account of a 24 day research trip to study the deepest part of the ocean known as the ocean's twilight zone. The author details the day to day life on the ship, how they weathered the storms, the scientific equipment used, the experiments done, and the discoveries made. 

Cusolito writes a book is full of great photographs of their research trip. The writing style is approachable and interesting. I liked that the human side of the trip was detailed along with the scientific parts. Students who love the ocean will find this book very interesting.

Reviewer: A. Snow, Librarian