Hail Mariam by Huda Al-Marashi - ADVISABLE

Hail Mariam by Huda Al-Marashi, 208 pages. Kokila (Penguin), 2026. $18. 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: PG (Mariam has her period); Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

12yo Mariam has recently transferred from public school to a private Catholic school. Mariam is the only Muslim child there. Although she has always done well in school - in fact she's often the "teacher's sunshine" she's finding it more difficult at the new school, because math is harder and nice handwriting wasn't an expectation in public school. She makes a couple of friends right away and by Christmas is even given the role of Mary in the class Nativity play (her teacher thought it would be nice to have a middle eastern child in the role). But when Mariam's 8yo sister becomes ill, she starts to worry if prayers won't be answered because of her perceived conflicts with religion. 

Mariam is a great example of a good kid, she tries so hard and is shocked when she does get in trouble for something. Her parents' high expectations aren't unrealistic. I loved that her friends were supportive and that there weren't bullies to contend with. I also loved how Al-Marashi continued to connect the religious communities, rather than always showing the differences. Not just for Muslim kids, I enjoyed Hail Mariam very much. 

Lisa Librarian 

Landing in Place by Sherine Hamdy and Myra El Mir - ADVISABLE

Landing in Place by Sherine Hamdy and Myra El Mir, 320 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Kokila (Penguin), 2026. $18

Language: G; Mature Content: PG (death, revolution, politics) Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Anisa Mustafa is applying for college and her mother wants her to go into med school. Though Anisa is Egyptian and Muslim, her mother doesn't want her to stand out and has her check "White" on her application forms. After flunking one of her courses, Anisa takes a break by visiting family in Egypt where she tries to figure out what being Muslim really is.

I wasn't prepared to like this book as much as I did. Anisa's journey to figure out how she fits in with her faith and her family is compelling. I learned more about the Muslim faith, and the quotes from the Holy Qur'an were beautiful. Anisa's decision to wear hijab and her reasoning are interesting and enlightening. I learned empathy and history of a group I don't know much about. This would be a great read for anyone practicing the Muslim faith, those who want to understand that faith, or anyone going through the angst of finding their own way and figuring out where they belong.

Michelle in the Middle 

The Forbidden Book by Sacha Lamb - OPTIONAL

The Forbidden Book by Sacha Lamb, 256 pages. Levine Querido, 2024. $20. 

Language: PG13 (19 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G Violence: PG13 (monsters, peril, stabbings, murder, dead bodies) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

0n the night of 17yo Sorel's wedding, she runs away, into the woods, throws her wedding dress in the river and dresses as a boy - Isser Jacobs. But she soon discovers that there is a real Isser Jacobs, and there are people after him - they want to kill him or at least get a book that is in his possession. 

So much intrigue - friends become enemies, and there's no one she can really trust. Lamb is a great mystery writer, the twists and turns and revelations are amazing. When I wasn't reading, I was thinking about The Forbidden Book. Definitely written for a Jewish audience, some knowledge of Jewish traditions and culture is needed to fully immerse in the book. The characters are Jewish. 

Lisa Librarian 

Finn and Ezra's Bar Mitzvah Time Loop by Joshua S. Levy - ADVISABLE

Finn and Ezra's Bar Mitzvah Time Loop by Joshua S. Levy, 256 pages. HarperCollins, 2024 $19. 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

13yo Finn and Ezra don't know each other (yet) but their Bar Mitzvah weekend is about to bring the boys together. They are having their events at the same time at the same hotel, but both boys seem to be trapped in a time loop, repeating Friday through Sunday, endlessly. Finn eventually figures out how to contact Ezra and the two work together to try figure out how to end their Bar Mitzvah Time Loop. 

I loved the crazy schemes they came up with, and how naive 13 year old boys can be. Joshua Levy looks at themes of family relationships, religious practices, friend drama, and coming of age in such a clever book. Of course it's far fetched, but a delightful read - I grew to love these guys. Finn and Ezra and their families are Jewish.

Lisa Librarian 

The Jake Show by Joshua S. Levy - ADVISABLE

The Jake Show by Joshua S. Levy, 240 pages. Katherine Tegen (HarperCollins), 2023. $19. 

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

BUYING ADVISORY:, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

13yo Jake Lightman feels like a character in a TV show. His parents are divorced and he's acting different parts for each parent. For his mother, he's “Yaakov” but he's “Jacob” for his father. He wants to go to a particular summer camp with his friends, but his father won't approve because the camp is too Jewish, and his mother won't approve because it's not Jewish enough. Jake concocts a plan to get there, but it means lying to both parents and getting his friends involved. But things only get more complicated once he gets to camp, he finds it more and more difficult to keep up with all the lies - and he risks losing his friends over it. 

A moving story; poor Jake is torn between trying to be what each parent expects, and not being able to be himself. I felt for him. I loved how honest his friends were, taking him to task when he needed it, while also being supportive. Levy's story was engaging. Certainly written for a Jewish reader, however, I didn't feel on the outside - everything was in context and made sense to the story, even though I wasn't familiar with everything going on. A great book about a kid navigating his parents' divorce, and his place in it. The characters are Jewish, one character, Caleb has come out as gay. 

Lisa Librarian 

The Dubious Pranks of Shaindy Goodman by Mari Lowe - ADVISABLE

The Dubious Pranks of Shaindy Goodman by Mari Lowe, 162 pages. Levine Querido, 2023. $19. 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (mean pranks, dangerous situations). 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

11yo Shaindy Goodman has never been the popular one in her class. In fact, most of the girls in her class barely notice her. So when the most popular girl, Gayil, invites Shaindy to help her play some fun pranks on their class, Shaindy can hardly believe it! But when the pranks aren't actually funny, and some of the girls involved get hurt or embarrassed, Shaindy realizes she's in over her head, and maybe Gayil isn't the nice girl everyone thinks she is. 

Shaindy is in 6th grade at a Jewish school, so religious instruction is part of everything they do. While I'm familiar with much of the Jewish religion, I wondered if it would be too much; it wasn't as Lowe expertly keeps the reader in the loop. I'm certain a Jewish reader will relate better than I to Shaindy's story, but I loved the classroom drama and Shaindy's situation. The fact that the girls are all about rollerblades and heelies makes me think it takes place in the 90s. 

Lisa Librarian 

Turtle Boy by M. Evan Wolkenstein - ADVISABLE

Turtle Boy by M. Evan Wolkenstein. 392 pages. Delacorte Press (Penguin Random House), 2020. $17 

Content: G. 

BUYING ADVISORY:, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

7th grader Will Levine loves turtles. Some of the kids at school call him Turtle Boy - but not because of his pets, it's because he has a funny looking chin. His Rabbi is helping him get his 40 hours of service for his Bar Mitzva, and arranges for Will to meet RJ, a teen a bit older than Will who is hospitalized and needs a friend. RJ is outgoing and a bit much for Will initially, but as their friendship grows, RJ helps Will "get out of his shell" by asking him to complete the last few things on RJ's bucket list. 

I liked the range of differences in this book. Will's needing surgery for his chin, RJ's Mitochondrial Disease, and even Will's friend Max was dealing with something. Some good issues addressed as well, death of a parent or friend, our fragile ecosystem (yes, Will's turtles were taken from the wild), health and emotional concerns, and fear of the unknown. The subplot of contractors taking over a beloved park has been in several books I've read this year, so I spotted that resolution right away. Over all, a nice read - Jewish kids will appreciate all the cultural and religious references.

Lisa Librarian

All-American Muslim Girl by Nadine Jolie Courtney - ADVISABLE

All-American Muslim Girl by Nadine Jolie Courtney, 415 pages. Farrar Straus Giroux (Macmillan), 2019. $18.

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: PG (teen dating) Violence: G.

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

16yo Allie Abraham is an all American girl. She gets good grades, has a bright future and a great boyfriend, Wells. Wells' dad is a nationally syndicated ultra conservative talk show host whose distrust of Muslims is no secret. Allie's father is from Jordan, her mother is Anglo-American but they are culturally Muslim. Allie's fair skin and red hair enables her to decide who she tells about her Muslim heritage. While the family is not religious Allie's interactions with her Grandmother and her Muslim cousins have inspired her to want to learn about Islam - and decide for herself, so she joins a study group of supportive girls and even begins to learn Arabic. But she is torn - her father probably won't approve of her religious decisions, and dating Wells is tricky - for both of them.

The opening scene of the book - where she confronts a bigoted passenger on an airplane is gold. I loved this book - Allie is spunky and undaunted, willing to speak her mind when necessary. I loved the glimpse into Muslim society and Islam - there is quite a bit of religious discussion, as Allie is learning about her culture. The romance is sweet - Allie is trying to reconcile dating (and other things). While better suited for High School because of the subject matter and age of the characters, I love to see more diverse titles in the middle school, so I will certainly be putting this on my shelves and recommending it.

Lisa Librarian

The Case of the Bicycle Bandit by James Preller - ADVISABLE

Preller, James. The Case of the Bicycle Bandit, illustrated by Jamie Smith.  74 pages.  Feiwel and Friends, 2001 (reprint).  $4.99.  Sexual Content: G.  Language: G.  Violence: G.

In this Jigsaw Jones Mystery, Ralphie Jordan’s bike, Old Rusty, is stolen.  Don’t worry, Jigsaw Jones and Mila are on the case.  The inspect the scene of the crime (the library) and interview witnesses.  They ask Geetha to help with the case, she draws a picture of the suspect.  They make posters and offer a reward.  Jigsaw Jones receives a phone call, someone has identified the suspect.  Jigsaw spies on Snarky Smithers and learns the truth about who really took Ralphie’s bike. 

This is a clever, age-appropriate mystery with several plot twists.  The illustrations help tell the story and the facial features on the characters are very expressive.   This book is a perfect introduction to the mystery genre for elementary school readers.  Recommend to fans of "A to Z Mysteries" and "Calendar Mysteries."

EL-ADVISABLE.  Samantha Hastings, MA, MLS. 

Growing Up Muslim by Sumbul Ali-Karamali - ADVISABLE

Ali-Karamali, Sumbul Growing Up Muslim, 213 pgs. Delacorte Press, 2012. $16.99 Language: G, (0 swears, 0 “f”): Mature Content; G, Violence; G;  

This book is simply and delightfully written. It was so fascinating to learn more about the beliefs, customs, and practices of the Muslim people. The author lives in Southern California and often found her friends asking her questions about her beliefs. This comprehensive books gives simple explanations of her life: What is Ramadan? Why do they dress differently? What do Muslims eat? Why do they pray several times a day? What holidays do they celebrate? She even includes some of her favorite recipes. They share a common story with their Christian and Jewish friends. The story of Abraham sacrificing his son Isaac. The mains difference is that the boy to be sacrificed is Ismail. They commemorate his sacrifice in a holiday call Eid. Their traditions are very inspiring and full of charity, abundance, and love. This book encourages tolerance and acceptance..  

EL, MS, HS, – ADVISABLE. Emilee, Teacher Librarian

The Opposite of Hallelujah by Anna Jarzab - OPTIONAL

Jarzab, Anna The Opposite of Hallelujah, 449 pgs.  Delacorte Press, 2012.  $16.99  Content: Language: R (41 swears; 3 “F”); Mature Content: PG-13 (underage drinking); Violence: PG. 

Caro has always considered herself an only child, even though she has a sister.  Her sister, Hannah, is eleven years older than her and has lived the last eight years of her life in a convent as a nun.  When Caro finds out that her sister is moving back home she is mortified.  Caro likes her life the way she is and she is mad at her sister for leaving in the first place.  As Caro tries to hide Hannah’s past from her two best friends and her new boyfriends she finds herself lying and her lies don’t just hurt Hannah they hurt Caro too.  Caro learns to care for others feelings and in the process she gets to know herself as well. 

In the beginning I thought this book was kind of slow, but I cared enough to find out what happened to the characters even though Caro’s selfishness made her hard to like at first.  But as the author develops the story and the characters it becomes a deep look at facing our pasts and helping those around us.  It also discusses believing in God and how people do that differently.  I found myself underlining parts and talking about them with my husband because they were so interesting.  It is a good book, but it does seem long and slow at times. 

HS-OPTIONAL.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.

The Garden of my Imaan by Farhana Zia –OPTIONAL

Zia,Farhana The Garden of my Imaan 192 pgs. Peachtree Publishers, 2013. $11.58. Content: Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: G; Violence: G.

Aliya is a young girl who is going through all the normal young teen stuff; self-esteem, homework, friends, and a growing interest in boys. Add to that her ethnicity and Muslim religion and she has a lot on her plate. Then a new girl Marwa, comes to school. She is much like Aliya on paper, but is super confident and sure of herself.  Will Aliya hide from changing herself or choose to learn from Marwa and grow?

A book about a normal student with relate-able issues is common, but add in the Muslim component and I was very interested in this book for my collection. I am not sure that this book worked for me. The cultural religious aspect was very heavy handed without much explanation to an outsider. Students reading on their own might be over-whelmed. I thought the main character wasn't very likeable and it made it hard for me to continue. This might make a better book for a teacher-led assigned reading.

EL, MS -OPTIONAL Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary School Librarian & Author

You Only Die Twice by Dan Gutman-ESSENTIAL

Gutman, Dan, The Genius Files #3: You Only Die Twice. HarperCollins, 2013. Pgs. 289. Language: G, Violence: G, Sexual Content: G

Pep and Coke’s summer vacation is off to a bad start. Now Aunt Judy is marrying the evil Dr. Warsaw. All we know is that Coke will be dumped into a giant shredder. How can this possibly happen?  Who is the Evil Elvis that is trying to kill them? Can they possibly survive Mom’s crazy obsession with the oversized objects and the evil henchmen?

The characters and plot are well-done. With traditional Dan Gutamn style, readers will learn, laugh, and be entranced with the ongoing story in the third book in the Genius Files series.

EL, MS - ADVISABLE. Reviewer: Jessica Moody, Library Media Specialist, Olympus Jr. High.

The Shadowed Onyx by Nicole O'Dell - OPTIONAL

O’Dell, Nicole The Shadowed Onyx, 368 p. Barbour Books, 2012.  $11.  Mature Content: PG-13 (occult and mysticism).  

After her best friend commits suicide, Joy turns her back on her former boyfriend and other friends and desperately seeks a way to contact Melanie beyond the grave.  In doing so, she opens herself up to evil spirits and possession.  In a desperate bid to regain her sense of self, Joy agrees to go to the Diamond Estates, a boarding school for troubled girls that focuses on reaching toward God as a large part of answers to life’s tough questions and trials.  Joy will have to give up a crutch that she sees as strength and open herself to angels and their power in a very physical way in order to be saved.  

This one was harder for me than the previous two Diamond Estates books as it varies from my own religious grounding in very different ways.  Joy literally sees angels and demons as they battle on the metaphysical plain for the possession of human souls.  She even watches as a very real animal tears apart her step-grandmother’s soul as that step-grandmother tries to turn away from the dark.  This is were my knowledge of other Christian teachings and traditions fails me and I personally would have a hard time introducing this into my collection.  

HS – OPTIONAL.  Cindy, Library Teacher

Wishing Pearl by Nicole O'Dell - ADVISABLE

O’Dell, Nicole Wishing Pearl, 368 p. Barbour Publishing, 2011.  $10.  Mature Content: PG-13 (drugs, alcohol, intimations of sexual abuse or at least the threat of such by a step parent, though that is not described).

  Olivia, 16, has been emotionally abused and intimidated by her stepfather and acts out by stealing money, and getting drunk and high with her best friend.  Besides her wild behavior, her only other refuge is her oboe –playing and the hope for scholarship.  A family friend suggests that Olivia’s mom take her Diamond Estates, a boarding school for troubled girls – but Diamond will only take you if you volunteer.  It isn’t until Olivia’s actions cause the death of her best friend that she thinks that she might be ready to change.  But taking one step forward doesn’t always mean that your next step will be in the right direction.  And not every girl at Diamond Estates is ready to surrender themselves to treatment and to follow the faith path set out by the founders.  

O’Dell’s book reminds me a lot of Melody Carlson’s Color series.  For schools looking for faith-based books, this is a good addition.  O’Dell fits a whole lot of story into her almost 400 pages – giving us plenty of back story, a realistic struggle to submit to treatment and a hard look at the variety of girls and challenges at any kind of facility.  

MS, HS – ADVISABLE. Cindy, Library teacher.

Days of Little Texas by R. A. Nelson - ADVISABLE

Nelson, R.A. Days of Little Texas, 386 pgs. Alfred A. Knopf (Borzoi Book), 2009.

Language: PG13; Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG

MS, HS - ADVISABLE

At sixteen, Ronald Earl is no longer the cute boy-wonder preacher he was at 10. He's having improper thoughts about girls in his dreams, and can't always get himself in top form for a performance. But people still flock to him, and call out Little Texas in praises to him. When a girl in a blue dress is brought to him at the end of another tent revival, he feels the familiar jolt moving through him and into her, but this time it is not another miraculous healing. When Wanda Joy comes up with the idea to hold a huge revival meeting on the grounds of an old plantation, visits from the girl in the blue dress increase. She is trying desperately to get Ronald Earl to understand something about the island they will be preaching on.

This is a very captivating story that combines ghosts and the evangelist tradition with the coming of age of an earnest young man who wants to be doing the right thing.

Reviewed by P.K. Foster, teacher-librarian.