Beauty Among Ruins by J’nell Ciesielski - OPTIONAL

Beauty Among Ruins by J’nell Ciesielski, 416 pages. Thomas Nelson, 2021. $17.

Language: PG (2 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

After being sent from New York to her aunt’s home in England, WWI starts and Lily is kept from crossing the ocean to return home. Lily accompanies her cousin to Scotland to help care for wounded soldiers at Kinclavoch Castle. Her optimism and reckless ways are not encouraged by those in charge, but perhaps Lily can make a positive impact in the dreary circumstances and create an atmosphere of hope for the soldiers, herself, and maybe even the gruff laird who owns the castle.

Lily’s story plays out like a melodrama; everything that can go wrong does go wrong up until the final chapter when everything miraculously comes together for the main characters. This is not to say that it wasn’t an entertaining story nor that the character arcs for the main characters are shallow. I was amused by (and even laughed out loud at) the characters’ antics and cheesy lines as well as relieved when all the conflicts were finally resolved.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

The Famoux by Kassandra Tate - OPTIONAL

The Famoux by Kassandra Tate, 400 pages. Wattpad Books, 2021. $11. 

Language: PG (6 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG13

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Two years of being blamed for everything at home on top of the bullying she has suffered for years at school motivates 16yo Emilee to join the Famoux, leaving her hometown far behind. With a name change and more, Emeray is introduced to a new way of life with the promise that it will be happier now. But her life is less her own than it has ever been as Emeray discovers the secrets hidden in this exclusive group.

Despite the rough start, I eventually started to anticipate picking up Emeray’s story instead of dreading it. Tate starts the book with more telling than showing, which makes the necessary background information uninteresting to get through before the real story takes over. Twists and turns pull Emeray -- and readers -- in every direction, until finally ending with half the pieces put together. I did start to enjoy reading the book after several chapters, but I don’t love it enough to pick up the sequel. The violence rating is for blood, assault, battery, and murder.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

What I Like About You by Marisa Kanter - OPTIONAL

What I Like About You by Marisa Kanter, 409 pages. Simon and Schuster, 2020. $19.

Language: R (96 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Halle can’t put the right words together IRL, but online she thrives under her pseudonym Kels, the blogger for One True Pastry. But in her most recent move, her real life and online worlds collide. Panicking, Halle tries to keep herself compartmentalized, an obviously foolproof strategy.

When Halle made the decision to keep her online and real lives from overlapping, I knew she was in trouble and I had to put the book down for a couple weeks because I wasn’t ready. I could see the blow up waiting to happen, and my dread continued to build with every opportunity to fix the mess that Halle let pass. And, after all that stress and disappointment, the ending was just eh. I appreciate the lessons in trust and true friendship that Kanter teaches through Halle’s mistakes, but reading the story was more painful than I wanted it to be. The mature content rating is for innuendo and partial nudity.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

The Quantum Weirdness of the Almost-Kiss by Amy Noelle Parks - ADVISABLE

The Quantum Weirdness of the Almost-Kiss by Amy Noelle Parks, 368 pages. Amulet Books, 2021. $14.

Language: PG13 (14 swears, 1 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Caleb and Evie have been friends forever -- and Caleb has been in love with her for most of that time. Meanwhile, Evie has only been in love with math. Until now.

From the first page, I fell in love with Caleb and Evie and their story. I love their cute nerdiness, their endless supply of adorableness, and their witty lines; but the thing that captivated me the most is how tangible their personalities are. Caleb and Evie feel like my friends because I feel like I know them well enough to recognize them if we could somehow pass each other on the street. Their story is humorous and heartbreaking and enjoyable from start to end. I’m already planning when I can reread it. Note: I listened to the audiobook, and it is read by two voice actors as they read alternating chapters from Caleb and Evie’s points of view. They did an amazing job, and I know they are at least half the reason I love this book. The mature content rating is for innuendo.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

The Super Miraculous Journey of Freddie Yates by Jenny Pearson - ADVISABLE

The Super Miraculous Journey of Freddie Yates by Jenny Pearson, 227 pages. Norton Young Readers, 2020. $17. 

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

After his grandmother’s death, 11yo Freddie Yates discovers his biological father might be alive and living in Wales. He convinces his two friends to go off on a harebrained scheme to find his father without telling their families where they are going. Along the way, they get mixed up with an onion eating competition, super hero costumes and dangerous art thieves. There is a lot of humor that makes this quest fun. Freddie, Ben, and Charlie make good foils for each other and the settings are delightful. I loved the ending, even though it seemed wrapped with a bow, because the super miraculous journey does seem to deliver on the miracles. A quirky, upbeat read that makes you value family and friends. 

 Michelle in the Middle 

The Bond of Friendship by Jamie Lee Rotante and Brittney Williams - OPTIONAL

The Bond of Friendship (Betty and Veronica) by Jamie Lee Rotante, illustrated by Brittney Williams, 129 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Archie Comic Publications, 2020. $15. 9781645769859 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW

Betty and Veronica go to a career fair at Riverdale High and imagine all the possibilities their futures might hold. But will their futures be so divergent they won’t be friends? 

 Imagining their futures really is the entire plot. The pictures and the colors are great but it’s like having great special effects with nothing to support them. If you are a die-hard fan, then read on. Otherwise, you may want some substance with your story. 

Michelle in the Middle 

FREIHEIT! The White Rose Graphic Novel by Andrea Grosso Ciponte - ESSENTIAL

FREIHEIT! The White Rose Graphic Novel by Andrea Grosso Ciponte, 112 pages. NON-FICTION. Plough Publishing House, 2021. $24 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

During World War II, a small group of university students formed the White Rose, an undercover resistance movement in Nazi Germany. Though Germans themselves, they felt duty bound to expose Nazi atrocities and wake up their fellow citizens. For that they were executed. 

 This is a must read for anyone interested in standing against tyranny or evil. Although a graphic novel, this book uses quotes from the White Rose and other authors whose thinking was quite deep, so this would be a high school lexile. In fact, the leaflets that the White Rose published are translated in their entirety at the back of the book. The art is stunning and the story both inspiring and horrific. I am grateful that the White Rose’s heroism lives on in this book. This is a story you will think about long after you finish reading. 

 Michelle in the Middle 

Grow: Secrets of Our DNA by Nicola Davies and Emily Sutton - ESSENTIAL

 Grow: Secrets of Our DNA by Nicola Davies, illustrated by Emily Sutton. NON FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Candlewick Press, 2020. $18. 9781536212723

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

All living things on our Earth has DNA in its cells. DNA is different for everyone, and we grow and develop according to the information in our own DNA. Once you are born, you do not even think about growing. You just grow! All the information about you, what you will look like, the color of your eyes, how tall you will be, and much more is embedded in your DNA. 

This is the coolest book! DNA is explained in easy and understandable language. The illustrations are simple, but fantastic. I loved this book and I highly recommend it. It will help give children insight into how they grow, and why they grow the way they do. Wow! Read this, it is awesome. 

Ellen-Anita, LMS 

The Bone Garden by Heather Kassner - ADVISABLE

The Bone Garden by Heather Kassner, 267 pages. Henry Holt & Company (Macmillan), 2019. $17. 

Language: G; Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Irreelle (11yo) spends her days winding through the underground tunnels and graveyard collecting bone dust for Miss Vesper’s creations. No matter how hard she tries, she is never able to live up to Miss Vesper’s expectations, not that Irreelle is surprised, she wasn’t made right after all. Miss Vesper is spending all her time creating someone better to take her place. After an unfortunate incident that causes Miss Vesper to lash out in anger, Irreelle runs to the tunnels to escape, vowing to never return. Imagine her surprise when she stumbles across another of Miss Vesper’s discarded creations, Guy, the boy she replaced. Guy is determined to leave and Irreelle wants to go with him, but wonders if she returned, would Miss Vesper forgive her. 

 I thought I was getting a scary story with a graveyard, bones, a ghost, and magic, but what I found was less creepy and more a story about friendship. The characters are unusual and the story is a bit odd, but the friendship parts work and there’s a nice ending. Unless you picked it up just for the potential scare factor, you will find this a nice middle school read. 

Reviewer: RB 

Rare & Blue: Finding Nature's Treasures by Constance Van Hoven and Alan Marks - ESSENTIAL

 Rare & Blue: Finding Nature's Treasures by Constance Van Hoven, illustrated by Alan Marks. NON FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Charlesbridge, 2020. $19. 9781623540975

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

This book was a great learning experience. It was fun to learn about animals and plants that are blue and in danger of disappearing. I loved reading about blue lobsters, Karner Blue Butterflies and blue whales. I did not know that some black bears are actually blue! I have read the book many times now, just to enjoy it and the beautiful illustrations. I loved reading about eight rare and endangered species. I had never even heard of blue bears! Now I want to plant Lupines just to see if I can get some Karner Blue Butterflies to visit my yard. The illustrations are beautiful, spectacular. I loved this book and I highly recommend it. It is important that we all know how to preserve the beauty all around us.

Ellen-Anita, LMS 

Secret Soldiers by Keely Hutton - ADVISABLE

Secret Soldiers by Keely Hutton, 309 pages. Farrar, Straus & Giroux (Macmillan), 2019. $17 

Language: PG (1 swear); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG-13 (war death/violence) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Tommy’s (13 yo) older brother, James, is fighting on the front line in the Great War. Tommy’s family had only received one letter from James when they were notified that he was missing. Tommy’s dad won’t talk about it and his mother fears the worst, but Tommy believes there is another explanation as to why they haven’t heard from him and decides it is up to him to find James. He is too young to join the army but lots of young men are finding a way to join and he eventually finds a way, as well, and arrives on the front line. Along the way he meets George, a street urchin just looking for his next meal or maybe his next con; Mouse, who is too shy to disagree, or even talk, with anyone; and Frederick Chamberlain, who has military and boarding school training, but his rigid personality is getting in the way of making friends. All four of them end up assigned to the same unit digging tunnels under the front line. It is cold, hard work and there is no talking allowed during their 8 hour shift in fear of being discovered by the enemy. When he isn’t digging, Tommy is showing James’s picture to other soldiers hoping someone has seen him, but it isn’t going well and Tommy begins to wonder if he will ever be able to find James and go home. 

The harsh realities of war can be hard to read, but this was mostly a story about friendship and a boy trying to find his brother. The characters were great and I found myself rooting for them, hoping they would all make it. I didn’t know much about soldiers digging under the trenches during the war and found that interesting, but there were also a few times it moved pretty slow. The ending, however, was so heartfelt that I quickly forgot those moments that dragged and was so glad I read it. 

Reviewer: R. Benson

Ghostology by Lucinda Curtle - ADVISABLE

 Ghostology: A true revelation of spirits, ghouls and hauntings by Lucinda Curtle and Dougald Steer, Yvonne Gilbert, Garry Walton, Doug Sirois. ACTIVITY BOOK. Candlewick Press, 2020. $28. 9781536209150

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Have you ever heard unexplained noises at night? footsteps across an upstairs floor when no one was there? Doors opening and closing? I would like to put together my own ghostologist field kit just for fun. The books tells of a set of trickster twins, a woman ghost screaming for help and much, much more.

Definitely a fun read! It is also a great addition to the other -ology books. Several years ago students made me aware of these books. My libraries had copies of all of -ologies and it was hard to keep them on the shelf. I was worried about my young grandson (age 8) finding Ghostoloy and being scared. It is like he had a radar zoomed in on this book. He went for it and loved it. He was not scared at all and we have already had several phone conversations about this book. I highly recommend it. What a fun book to read!  

Ellen-Anita, LMS 

Grasping Mysteries: Girls Who Loved Math by Jeannie Atkins - ESSENTIAL

Grasping Mysteries: Girls Who Loved Math by Jeannie Atkins, 285 pages. NON-FICTION. Atheneum (Simon), 2020. $18

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

The book, written in verse chronicles the lives of seven remarkable women. They grew up loving math and for the most part were encouraged by their families, even when some of their teachers told them math was not for girls. They kept going, even when it got hard. Math helped them put things into place and answered their questions. These girls helped put rockets into space and on the moon, discovered and proved the existence of dark matter, start a school for nurses, discovered comets and so much else.

This was such an exciting read! I loved it and could not put it down. I felt like I got to know these women and loved them for not ever giving up, even when things were hard. I know from teaching myself that it is easy for students to give up on math because it is hard and not "cool." I loved helping all my students see the beauty of math, and how math was so dependable, and how we use it in our lives, everyday. 

Ellen-Anita LMS 

Beyond Me by Annie Donwerth-Chikamatsu - ESSENTIAL

 Beyond Me by Annie Donwerth-Chikamatsu, 290 pages. Atheneum (Simon), 2020. $18

Content: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Maya and her friend Yuka are just at the end of 5th grade when the big earthquake and Tsunami hit Japan on March 11, 2011. Maya feels scared, lost and worried. Then she learns that the worst of the quake and the tsunami hit northeast in the country. She helps in relief efforts, collecting food, clothing and other essentials with her mom. School is closed. Maya and Yuka decide to fold 1,000 paper cranes to help. Maya hears that sunflowers can help absorb radiation. She starts growing sunflowers and plans to send the seeds to the northeast. 

Maya's story is heart wrenching. Reading this I felt that I was right there with her. She is an amazing girl, and keeps going even when she is so frightened. It is very touching. I highly recommend this book. Read it out loud to your children, your students. It is amazing. I could not put it down! The book tells the story from Maya's point of view, in verse. Dates and times are added for each aftershock and tremble. 

Ellen-Anita LMS 

The Last Tree Town by Beth Turley - ADVISABLE

The Last Tree Town by Beth Turley, 262 pages. Simon and Schuster, 2020. $24

Content: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

 Cassi is part Puerto Rican, but people always comment that she does not look like the rest of her family. Life can be sad and cruel, but she has good support from her family. She takes comfort in math and the Math Olympiad. There she meets Aaron, who shares stories with Cassi about all the different Tree Towns that he and his author dad have lived in. 

I liked how Cassie worked through her problems and found ways to make her happy. She forms a cute friendship with Aaron and I think she even has a crush on him and that the feeling might be mutual. She can tell him things, and he understands. He tells her things about his life and she understands. I also liked that the two main characters both liked math. The book is full of interesting, colorful and strong characters. I recommend this book. 

Ellen-Anita LMS 

Saltwater Secrets by Cindy Callaghan - ADVISABLE

 Saltwater Secrets by Cindy Callaghan, 275 pages. Aladdin, 2020. $19 

Content: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Half-sisters, Stella and Josie live on different continents, but every summer they spend with their dad at the Jersey Shore. They love the ocean, the waves, the boardwalk, all the little shops and especially their secret spot under the pier. There they have box, buried in the sand, with memories from all their summers together. It is their secret. They discover that something is killing the jellyfish and eroding the wooden supports for the pier. As they work on unraveling this mystery, they realize they might be in over their heads. Can they solve the mystery before the whole pier collapses and injure or kill a lot of people?

A fast read and fun mystery. The sisters clash a little at the beginning and summer isn't off to the start they usually have. With all the things going on, they realize they must work together if they are going to figure out who is poisoning the sea. I love mysteries and this was a fun and easy read. I liked how the Stella and Josie realize that they need to trust each other and rely on each other to work out what is going on. The story is told by Josie and Stella, in alternating sections. 

 Ellen-Anita, LMS 

The Hive by Barry Lyga and Morgan Baden - HIGH

The Hive by Barry Lyga and Morgan Baden, 413 pages. KCP Loft (Kids Can Press), 2019. $18.

Language: R (182 swears, 32 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

The Hive can be anyone anywhere at any given time; they watch your social media accounts and hold you accountable for what you say and do online. 17yo Cassie supports Hive justice and joins a couple of mobs punishing others. But when she is condemned and runs from the mob because a mean joke went viral, Cassie finds that the system is more flawed than she can take on by herself.

When I started reading, I thought the main conflict would be internal about whether or not Cassie believed in and would support the Hive. However, things quickly took a turn for more thrilling when Cassie started being tracked by Hive mobs for punishment. The futuristic world that Cassie lives in is created by trying to find a solution for online bullying. I love the creative solutions that Lyga and Baden play with, even if this doesn’t look like the best option for us. The mature content rating is for drug and alcohol use, nudity, and mentions of rape; the violence rating is for blood and gore as well as gun use.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

No Good Deed Goes Unpunished by E. James Harrison - ADVISABLE

No Good Deed Goes Unpunished by E. James Harrison, 270 pages. Covenant Communications, 2021. $17.

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

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Living his normal life, Garrett gets a weird phone call that changes his life -- and makes him several million dollars richer. Five years ago, Garrett saved Edwin’s life. Now, Edwin is dead and has left Garrett money in his will along with the promise for more if he can accomplish the impossible: track down the information Edwin was nearly killed over. The payout is tempting, but it comes at the risk of lives.

With lives on the line, anything less than suspense and action would be a disappointment; Harrison arranges both without making the antagonist’s plot obvious, making both the protagonist and the reader puzzle out what’s going on and who’s on which side. Most loose ends are neatly tied, though a couple unanswered questions leave room for a potential sequel. Overall, I enjoyed my time reading Garrett’s story as it gave me all the excitement I was looking for when I picked it up. The violence rating is for gun use, murder, and blood and gore.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen 

Awesome Asian Americans by Phil Amara and Oliver Chin - ADVISABLE

Awesome Asian Americans: 20 Stars Who Made America Amazing by Phil Amara and Oliver Chin, 120 pages. BIOGRAPHY, SHORT STORIES. Immedium, 2020. $18.

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

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

In these 20 mini-biographies, Amara and Chin highlight Asian Americans who have done amazing things despite racism and other hardships. Some of these heroes are doctors, soldiers, and Olympians; others are singers, artists, and athletes. Whether you want to follow the trails they have blazed or make a path all your own, the stories of these stars will encourage and inspire.

Amara and Chin chose a wide variety of people to highlight, and the range shows just how important Asian Americans have been in building the image of America that we have, even when others told them to “go back where they came from.” The overall message of not only tolerance but love and inclusion was clear without being belabored. I was surprised by how many of the people highlighted are familiar to me, and I loved learning more about them.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Bound in Shallows by Stephanie Black - ADVISABLE

Bound in Shallows by Stephanie Black, 320 pages. Covenant Communications, 2020. $17.

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

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Looking forward to their wedding, Natalie and Gideon are doing their best to keep it as stress-free as possible, despite old family drama and new tensions with friends. With secrets and ulterior motives at every turn, eloping sounds like a much better plan -- Natalie and Gideon can’t even make it through their wedding weekend before getting the police involved.

While the context of the previous books is nice, readers can still build rapport with the characters and feel the suspense without the prequels. I love how open and trusting Natalie and Gideon are in their relationship, especially with all the crazy going on around them. Reading about a solid couple is refreshing and allows more focus on the mystery at hand rather than trying to improve relationship troubles. The mature content rating is for drug abuse and other illegal activity; the violence rating is for blood, mentions of suicide, and murder.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen