Where the Heart Should Be by Sarah Crossan - ADVISABLE

Where the Heart Should Be by Sarah Crossan, 400 pages. HarperCollins, 2025 $22. 

Language: R (15 swears 2 'f'); Mature Content: PG (reference to having sex, kissing) Violence: PG (peril, threats) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

16yo Nell has been hired at the big house as a scullery maid. It's 1846 and the Irish potato famine is killing all the crops. The rich British land owners are not affected, but all the Irish are starving. Nell's income is barely keeping her family alive. Lord Wicken's heir has recently moved into the Big House, 17yo John Browning who has his sites set on Nell. He's kind and sweet and they both realize that their growing love is forbidden. 

A realistic depiction of the poverty and death experienced by the Irish. The contrast between the rich and the poor was heartbreaking. Sarah Crossen's novel in verse is a nice love story with some real emotion, enhanced by the free verse poems. Although histrocial fiction is not a favorite these days, I think I can easily hand sell it as a romance. Nell is Irish, Johnny is British. Both are white. 

Lisa Librarian 

Wild Bird by Diane Zahler, - OPTIONAL

Wild Bird by Diane Zahler, 320 pages. Square Fish (Macmillan), 2024. $9 (pb)

Content: PG (many plague deaths, imprisonment, burning at the stake lightly described)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Rype is what she is known as now.  The only survivor of the plague in a Norwegian village, she is now on a trader’s boat on its way to England.  When the plague comes on board and kills the captain, though, Rype and the captain’s son escape to a random shore, rather than waiting to be murdered by the mutinous first mate. Now they must walk their way through a Europe savaged by the plague, hoping to find kind souls to help them along the way.

Rype’s age is not specified, but she is probably 11? 12? Zahler has masterfully tackled a subject that is hard to get students interested in - historical fiction is not an easy sell.  I personally loved this and I know other adult readers will also empathize - but you will only have a handful of students who will read it on their own. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Artifice by Sharon Cameron - ADVISABLE

Artifice by Sharon Cameron, 464 pages. Scholastic, 2023. $14

Language: PG13 (46 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: PG (Romance, kisses); Violence: PG (Occupation of Nazi's, violence toward Jewish people, peril for Dutch citizens)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Isa is a teenager in Amsterdam during WWII. Her mother is dead and her father, a painter and art dealer is addicted to morphine, so paying the taxes on the gallery and making enough money to meet their basic needs falls to her. She sells a painting to the Germans. It is a forgery, but they don't know it, at least she thinks they don't. But when Michel, one of the Nazi soldiers shows up at her door, and remembers her from when he visited from Vienna with his father, her world starts to crumble and she finds herself meeting Michel's demands, as well as helping her friends who work with the Dutch resistance.

An exciting historical fiction, based on actual people. I liked Cameron's author notes at the end, giving us the rest of the story of the real people, and more about the pieces of art that were hidden, forged or sold.  There isn't any war action (except for a couple of night air attacks on the city of Amsterdam), but there is lots of danger and scary door banging.  A nice read, but a bit long for middle school.

Characters are Dutch, Austrian or German. 

Lisa Librarian 

Black Sunflowers by Cynthia LeBrun - OPTIONAL

Black Sunflowers by Cynthia LeBrun, 475 pages. Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2024. $22

Language: PG-13 (18 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG (dead bodies, threats of death, overarching fear, alcohol consumption); Violence: PG-13 (beatings, starvation, war related violence)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS, ADULT - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: FEW

For the first 6 years of Veronika's life, she lived a quiet life on her family farm surrounded by loving aunts, uncles, and cousins. Unfortunately, her family lived in Ukraine, which is under Soviet control. Stalin's communist policies targeted the Ukrainian people and led to starvation and fear. As she grows up, Veronika experiences the reality of these policies first hand. The tragedy of the oppressive government takes its toll on the people Veronika loves, but she survives and learns to live within that terrifying reality. 

I liked that it's a true story and historically accurate. I learned about what it was like to live during the Holodomor. I also loved the authentic, loving relationship between Veronika and her family. It's more of a memoir than a novel and it definitely reads like that. There's no real plot and it basically just tells Veronkia's life story. I don't see that any kids would read it on their own. It's likely only people who are interested in this historical time period would read it. Veronika is 6 years old when the book starts and 19 at the end. Veronika and her family are Polish Catholics living in Ukraine. 

Andrea R 

Across So Many Seas by Ruth Behar - ADVISABLE

Across So Many Seas by Ruth Behar, 272 pages. Penguin, 2024 $18.

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (threats of violence) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

In 1492, Benvenida and her family are forced out of Spain during the Spanish Inquisition because they are Jewish. Benvenida wrote poetry some of which she left behind, and sang songs, all of which she brought with her. Eventually her family finds their way to Turkey. 

In 1923, Reina meets a boy to watch fireworks on the celebration of Turkish Independence. Her father says she has embarrassed the family and ruined her reputation. She is sent to Cuba with an Aunt, the family's oud and the songs her mother taught her. 

In 1961, 12yo Alegra, Reina's daughter volunteers to be a Brigadista and teach literacy to the uneducated people out in the country, but her father, fearing the family's safety as he has spoken out again Fidel Castro sends Alegra to Miami with a Jewish Rescue organization. 

In 2003, Paloma, wanting to learn more about her family history is excited to go on a family trip to Toledo Spain. 

I was worried that the multiple perspectives were going to be a problem, however, Behar ties the stories together with a particular song passed down through the generations and I loved how beautifully that worked to foster continuity. I loved that the girls were related, it helped make each additional perspective not as new, more of a continuation - although I was worried how many jumps between each generation when it started in 1492! Readers who like Ryan's Echo or Gratz's Refugee will enjoy Across So Many Seas as well. Includes extensive author's notes with links to her research. The characters are Sephardic Jews.

 Lisa Librarian

By Fire: The Jakob Hutter Story by Jason Landsel - OPTIONAL

By Fire: The Jakob Hutter Story by Jason Landsel, 168 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. Plough Publishing, 2025. $20.

Language: PG (1 swear, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Jakob Hutter had given up after seeing too many die while fighting for their beliefs. When Ursula runs into Jakob on her way to find the Anabaptists, Jakob regains hope in the God he knows. With the Anabaptists, Jakob finds a place of peace, but his enemies will not stop.

This historical fiction graphic novel brings mostly true events to life, inspiring readers with real examples of courage and determination. By using a visual medium, parts of the story are able to be told exclusively with wordless panels of illustrations. Landsel also includes extra material in the back of the book with text written by both protagonists and antagonists depicted in the book, timelines, maps, and more.

All of the characters are European. The mature content rating is for alcohol use, kissing, innuendo, and nudity. The violence rating is for assault, gun use, corpses, battle scenes, torture, and murder.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

The Color of a Lie by Kim Johnson - ESSENTIAL

The Color of a Lie by Kim Johnson, 325 pages. Penguin, 2024. $20

Language: G (1 swear, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG (kissing); Violence: PG (Fight between characters resulting in an accidental death)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS, ADULT - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

16yo Calvin, a black teenager, passes as white in 1955. His family moves to an all-white suburb for a safer life, but maintaining their secret is exhausting. Calvin seeks solace with new friends and Lily, his crush, while uncovering the town's dark racist history. Torn between safety and truth, Calvin faces dangerous choices about identity and morality. The novel powerfully connects historical realities to personal struggles with race and belonging. This was an extremely powerful book which had me very tense and emotional throughout - at first because of Calvin trying to "pass" and later when the boys were on their "mission".

I really appreciated the historical references such as Emmitt Till and Martin Luther King Jr. which grounded the story in its time period and highlighted the relevance. I also appreciated the author's ability to educate readers, especially white readers, on the Black experience in America. I highly recommend this book to all readers of any color, race, young and old. Robert is Calvin's brother and he is black. Eugene and Harry are brothers who are black. Ben, Mary, Alex and Darin are white.

Jessica Nelson CTHS Librarian 

Adventures of Mary Jane by Hope Jahren - ADVISABLE

Adventures of Mary Jane by Hope Jahren, 423 pages. Delacorte (Random House), 2024. $20.

Content:  (Being honest - it’s summer.  I didn’t keep track of any content issues and don’t remember anything being egregious or of note - I don’t have an ebook version, so I can’t search for any content)

BUYING ADVISORY: ADULTS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

When their trading post burns down again, Mary Jane, her mother, and her grandfather head south early for the summer.  When they arrive at Fort Snelling, 500 miles south, Mary Jane’s Ma has a letter from her sister, asking for help, so Ma decides to send Mary Jane farther south to Fort Edwards. Mary Jane’s journey is fraught with a roller coaster of bad deals and unexpected kindnesses - and things at her aunt’s home are a disaster. The mix of kindness and scoundrels continues - and Mary Jane uses her brains and wits to tackle each new challenge.

Adults who have read Huckleberry Finn and who love historical fiction will admire Mary Jane and enjoy the story. Mary Jane fleshed out reminds me of the most heroic of heroines.  The part where it crosses paths with Huck I found to be the least satisfying.  Because of its size and being historical fiction, I believe that only a handful of high school students will be attracted to it.  But, it will find its audience with older women who know and love their classics. On a personal note - I found the parts about historical antagonistic attitudes towards Mormons (being one myself) to be spot on, but tempered with Jahren showing the generosity those hated people showed to Mary Jane’s family when they were in dire need. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Mysterious Life of Dr. Barry by Lisa Williamson - OPTIONAL

The Mysterious Life of Dr. Barry by Lisa Williamson, 137 pages. Pushkin Books, (rerelease) 2024. $

Content: G (minor arguments, c-section mentioned, main character spends her life disguised as a man)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE; MS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Margaret wanted more than living at home caring for her mother, so when the chance came, she reinvented herself in the guise of a man and enrolled in medical school in Edinburgh. For the next 50 years, Dr. Barry pursued a career as surgeon - battling against society’s perception of him as just a boy, keeping most people at arms-length, having only few close friends, and always dealing with politics in the towns and military units in which he was placed. While a few may have suspected, it wasn’t until Dr. Barry’s death that their secret was revealed.

Williamson manages to avoid any pronouncement about whether Dr. Barry was just disguised as a male, or whether they were transgender. The author had to create dialogue and embellish a bit to flesh out the few details known of Barry’s life; thus, this is fiction, rather than a biography. Regardless of Barry’s origins, they are important for performing the first successful C-section - both mother and baby survived despite the non-existence of anesthesia. The illustrations make the book feel very young.

Dr. Barry is from Scotland.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Beneath a Crescent Shadow by A. L. Sowards - MANY

Beneath a Crescent Shadow (The Balkan Legends #1) by A. L. Sowards, 342 pages. Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2024. $23.

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

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

The death of his father left Konstantin (19yo) in charge of their people before Konstantin was ready. With brigands destroying crops and homes, winter around the corner, and needing to pay tribute to the sultan in the spring, Konstantin doesn’t know how he can possibly take care of all his people’s needs. His grandfather arranges a marriage between Konstantin and Suzana (17yo), whose dowry will solve many problems, but is financial security worth marrying a stranger?

Sowards obviously did her homework to make her story align with history, aside from the fun fictional embellishments and drama. The history seeps through naturally, keeping readers engaged through relevant narration of politics and military strategy. Konstantin’s sense of right and wrong is challenged through his story, and I wept with him over the difficult choices he had to make.

Konstantin and Suzana are Serbian. The majority of characters are Serbs, with several Turks and Germans as well. The mature content rating is for alcohol use, illegal activity, sexual harassment, innuendo, and mentions of rape. The violence rating is for assault, miscarriage, mentions of domestic violence and suicide, battle scenes, and murder.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

A Crane Among Wolves by June Hur - ADVISABLE

A Crane Among Wolves by June Hur, 368 pages. Feiwel & Friends (Macmillan), 2024. $18

Language: PG-13 (31 swears, 1 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG (kissing); Violence: R (repeated bloody deaths)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

A young woman in 1504 Korea, 17yo Iseul, and her older sister are orphaned by soldiers who killed their parents on orders from the king. They live with their grandmother until 1506 when the king collects the eldest for one of his own concubines. Iseul will do anything to save her sister, but she has to learn patience and observation skills to do it wisely and as safely as possible. An investigator for the soldiers is helping her gain these skills, even though it will mark him as a traitor. Iseul unexpectedly meets Prince Daehyun and eventually they help each other as the Prince plans a coup to take down the tyrant king.

Full of intrigue and determination! I appreciate the research the author took the time to do for this book about a dark part of Korean history. Magnificent character development and world building. I fell in love with Iseul and the prince.

LynnDell Watson, DHS Librarian, Delta, Utah 

The British Booksellers by Kristy Cambron - OPTIONAL

The British Booksellers by Kristy Cambron, 384 pages. Thomas Nelson (Harper), 2024. $18.

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

BUYING ADVISORY: ADULTS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Charlotte and Amos loved each other and dreamed of opening a bookshop as co-owners someday, despite the fact that they had wildly different social standings. Decades later, Charlotte and Amos have rival bookshops across the street from one another, and Charlotte’s daughter, Eden, is being sued by a random American who has come in the midst of war to serve her the papers.

At first, the constantly changing settings, time periods, and points of view were off putting, but I came to enjoy the stories being told. By watching the story unfold through time, Charlotte and Amos’s story becomes more powerful—and some antagonists turn out to be more of heroes than I wanted to give them credit for. I love that a story that starts to look like a tragedy can still end happily given enough time.

Most of the characters are English; Jacob is American. The mature content rating is for alcohol use and innuendo. The violence rating is for blood, death, bomb use, gun use, and descriptions of war.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

A Season Most Unfair by J. Anderson Coates - ADVISABLE

A Season Most Unfair by J. Anderson Coates, 273 pages. Atheneum (Simon), 2023. $18

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Scholastica (Tick) has learned all there is to learn about the candle-making trade in 13th-century England. If she is doing all the work, and has learned all that she has, is she not a real apprentice? One day she finds a young boy at her workstation - her father's new apprentice. She is no longer allowed to help with the candle-making, just because she is a girl. Instead, she is expected to help in the house and hang out with other girls in the village. She learns that she will not even be allowed to go to the big fair in September. She looks forward to the fair all year! Will she be able to convince her father to let her come?

Life in the Middle Ages was hard for many reasons: not only for the strict roles imposed on girls and boys. The story is both interesting and captivating. I loved this book. The characters are all English. I don’t know how much your students read Middle Ages set books - but if they do read Karen Cushman, for example, they would also enjoy this. 

Ellen-Anita, Librarian

A Terrible Tide by Suzanne Meade - OPTIONAL

A Terrible Tide by Suzanne Meade, 185 pages. Second Story Press, 2021. $12 (paperback)

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Celia is set to celebrate her 13th birthday in 1929 in her small Newfoundland village. Instead, however, the entire community gets a disaster – an earthquake followed by a tsunami. Unsure what exactly has happened to them, the village tries to pick up the wreckage and begin again. Celia is comforted by her dog, who rescued Celia when she was swept out to sea in the tsunami. She waits to see how the others will recover and what choices her parents will make for their family.

What a great choice for a classroom read aloud! Meade has a great sense of timing for each chapter. I do not think students will pick this up on their own, however – historical fiction is a hardsell, unless you are Lauren Tarshis. Audiobook provided by libro.fm. Narrated by Dana Puddicombe

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS 

Iceberg by Jennifer Nielsen - ADVISABLE

Iceberg by Jennifer Nielsen, 334 pages. Scholastic Press, 2023. $18. 

Content: G (mild threats, panic during the evacuation) 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

12yo Hazel stows away on the Titanic so she can come to America and earn money to send back to her widowed mother and brothers in England. Charlie, a porter on the ship, discovers her secret and helps her many times throughout the voyage. While on the ship, she also meets Sophia, a wealthy girl in first class, and her nanny. Worried that a couple is trying to steal Sophia’s money, Hazel gets herself into some sticky situations. With the help of an older friend, Mrs. Ableman, she also learns about icebergs and the trouble they can cause in the open water.

I liked reading a story about a character on the Titanic and learning about icebergs. I felt some of the subplots were overemphasized instead of focusing on the concerning facts Hazel discovers about the ship itself. The main character and supporting characters appear to be white. 

Paula, Teacher Librarian

The Rent Collector by Camron Wright - ESSENTIAL

The Rent Collector by Camron Wright, 240 pages. Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2022. $18. 9781629729855

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

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Sang Ly (29yo) lives with her husband and their sick son in the dump. They work hard to pay their bills and feed their son, but they’re still behind on rent. And then Sang Ly is given an opportunity to learn how to read, which would make it possible to teach her son to read and improve his life—if she can overcome the obstacles that stand between them and that hopeful future.

This amazing tale is based on a true story, and Wright has adapted it for young readers, but I felt so much hope and inspiration from Sang Ly’s story that I am going to read the full version next to get all the details left out of this version. Sang Ly—and readers—learn the lessons that come from life’s difficulties, from literature, and from how we choose to react to both. Before this book, I didn’t know that a literal dump could be so beautiful, but it has been.

All of the characters are Cambodian. The mature content rating is for mentions of alcohol abuse. The violence rating is for blood, mentions of gang violence and human trafficking, gun use, and murder.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

The Lost Year by Katherine Marsh - ADVISABLE

The Lost Year by Katherine Marsh, 386 pages. Roaring Brook Press (Macmillan), 2022. $17

Language: G; Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG (referred but not described)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Matthew frets as a New Jersey shut-in during the Covid pandemic. His mother assigns him to help his 100-year-old great- grandmother, GG, clean out her memory boxes in order to release pent up energy. As photos and writings emerge, Matthew discovers a history never shared until now. The stories of Helen and Mila, long distant cousins become interwoven as GG slowly, painfully shares her life history during the Holodomor (Stalin forced famine in Ukraine). Helen, who has immigrated with her family to Brooklyn, secretly sends a gold necklace to help her starving cousin, Nadia. Nadia uses the money to search for family help. She finds Mila, another cousin, and her father in Kiev. But Mila’s father refuses to help her. Consequently, Mila secretly conceals Nadia at the home of her piano teacher. What happens after this becomes the secret of a lifetime.

Marsh takes the history she has learned about her own grandmother and creates an intriguing tale of courage, hope, love, betrayal, and survival. The plot moves swiftly as the story shifts from Matthew to Helen to Mila with cliffhangers at every turn. Marsh’s final reveal reminds all of the lengths humans go to for survival. March aptly wrote of this book “the anguish and worry at the heart of this work of historical fiction feels all too current and real”.

MOMMAC 

The Corpse Queen by Heather M. Herrman - MANY

The Corpse Queen by Heather M. Herrman, 401 pages. G.P. Putnam's Sons (Penguin), 2021. $14

Language: R (43 swears, 4 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG-13 (undescribed premarital sex, unwed pregnancy by side characters); Violence: PG-13 (Grave robbery and stealing parts from dead bodies, bloody remains, stabbing)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

In 1855 Philadelphia, Molly lives at an orphanage until her aunt requests that she live with her. Before she even meets her aunt, she’s told she has to pick up a package first which turns out to be nothing like she expects. Tom works for Molly’s aunt Ava and he picks her up from the orphanage, takes her to pick up the package then transports her to Ava’s home. Molly finally meets Ava and is given snippets of information about living there and what she’s required to do to stay. She’s expected to collect bodies for Dr. Lavall’s lectures and usually this requires dishonesty. Molly is eventually allowed to join the lectures and discovers that she wants to become a doctor herself even though she’s not welcomed into the surgical world by society or the other students. Molly also becomes deeply entwined in the mystery of The Knifeman and it’s going to take all her cleverness and bravery to keep from becoming a victim herself.

Suspenseful, creepy and frightening story kept me riveted. Molly’s strength overcomes her insecurities from being left in an orphanage by her parents and the abuse she suffered there. I enjoy the diverse characters and Tom’s personality and perseverance. The mystery is interesting. The characters are mainly Irish-American, white.

LynnDell Watson, Delta High School Librarian

Isla to Island by Alexis Castellanos - HIGH

Isla to Island by Alexis Castellanos, 192 pages, GRAPHIC NOVEL.  Atheneum Books for Young Readers (Simon & Schuster).  2022.  $22.

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

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

In this wordless graphic novel, 12yo Marisol arrives in Brooklyn from Cuba, when her parents send her there during the 60s to keep her safe during Castro’s regime.  Marisol has to navigate a new world as she figures out how to fit in at school and her new home without her parents, all while learning a new language.

Marisol’s journey is representative of those children who were able to come to America through Operation Peter Pan.  Marisol’s immigration story, though in the 1960s, is still timely and will have similar themes to more recent ones.

Michelle in the Middle

Mandela and the General by John Carlin and Oriol Malet - ESSENTIAL

Mandela and the General by John Carlin, illustrated by Oriol Malet, 106 pages, NON-FICTION GRAPHIC NOVEL. Plough Publishing House. 2018. $20. 9780874868203

Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content PG; Violence: PG-13 (depictions of racist violence)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

A true story covered by John Carlin when he was a foreign correspondent, this book covers the end of apartheid as South Africa is poised on the knife’s edge of all-out war. Mandela knows he can’t avert a bloodbath without meeting up with his arch enemy, Constand Viljoen, who is leading the white, well-armed militias. The two meet in secret to determine the future of a nation and countless lives. 

This is a timely read when it seems political rhetoric and fear mongering take the place of civil discourse. Mandela’s comment, “We need to find a way that will reconcile your people’s understandable fears with my people’s legitimate aspirations,” is insightful. Carlin captures the emotions of this time period in a carefully written, concise format that demonstrates the value of empathy. 

Michelle in the Middle