We, the Curious Ones by Marion Dane Bauer and Hari & Deepti - ADVISABLE

We, the Curious Ones by Marion Dane Bauer, illustrated by Hari & Deepti. PICTURE BOOK Candlewick Press, 2023. $19. 9781536218596 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL - AVERAGE 

Early humans created stories to make sense of their world and the universe. They told stories about the sun, the moon, gods and goddesses in the sky, of their hunter's daring. They told of a flat world built on the back of a turtle, and not to sail too close to the edge of the world. But there are always those among us curious and courageous who challenge the stories we love. What if the world is round? It took a long time to believe in a round Earth and all the things we know from our new technology. Now we have new beloved stories. But even those stories will still be challenged by the curious and courageous. The universe is waiting. What will you discover? 

We, the Curious Ones is a lyrical discussion in beautiful illustrations about the complex and ever-evolving relationship between science and story. Young children would be lost in the thought-provoking text and illustrations. Older readers would enjoy the poetic blend. 

PGPowers 

The Fire, The Water, and Maudie McGinn by Sally J. Pla - ESSENTIAL

The Fire, The Water, and Maudie McGinn by Sally J. Pla, 324 pages. Quill Tree (Harper), 2023. $20

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG (implied physical abuse); Violence: OG (one violent scene - no blood)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

13yo Maudie loves her summers with her dad in his mountain cabin.  During the school year it used to be her and her mom, but now her mom has married and Maude does not feel comfortable around her mom’s new husband.  Plus Mom is always trying to make Maudie “normal”. Not trying to understand Maudie’s autism and how she ticks. But summer becomes a disaster when a forest fire destroys everything except for what they have on their backs. Now she and Dad are headed to Dad’s hometown - a small beach town near the Mexico border. There Maudie sees surfers - a finds a female surfer willing to coach Maudie after an initial misunderstanding. Maudie decides to keep her surf lessons secret from Dad until the day of the big festival and surf contest.  And all summer she worries about what will happen when she has to return to live with her mom and stepdad.

I’ve been trying to figure out of Maudie reads as a younger character because her Mom has always kept her close. Watching her struggle to decide keep her secret about her stepfather’s physical abuse or not is painful - the secret also unfolds slowly, hard to read at the beginning.  But I was personally enthralled.

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS

The Sunlit Man by Brandon Sanderson - OPTIONAL

The Sunlit Man by Brandon Sanderson, 447 pages. Dragonsteel Entertainment, 2023. $30.

Language: R (40 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Running for his life from the Night Brigade, Nomad has visited worlds all over the cosmere. Landing on this planet is especially unpleasant as the torment Nomad suffers from is getting worse, the planet is barely able to sustain life, and a tyrant is attempting world domination. Somehow, Nomad has to make it off the planet before the Night Brigade finds him, and his lot has been thrown in with the planet’s underdogs.

While Nomad’s story has several references to The Stormlight Archives series, I loved his adventure without understanding all of said references. Nomad is an unconventional hero who is changed by the experiences he has with the people on this random planet—neither he nor readers will ever be the same. As always, Sanderson introduces interesting points to ponder and balances comedy with tragedy. Also included are beautiful illustrations of the characters and the planet.

Nomad is Black, and the characters are described as having various skin tones. The mature content rating is for alcohol use, mild innuendo, nudity, and brief discussions of sex. The violence rating is for assault, fantasy violence, gun use, and murder.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid - HIGH

A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid, 373 pages. HarperTeen, 2023. $17 

Language: PG-13 (14 swears  0 'f');  Mature Content: PG-13 (sex with minimal detail) Language:  PG-13 (sexual harassment and bullying by classmates)

BUYING ADVISORY:  HS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

18yo Effy loves literature and desperately wants to attend the literature college but has settled for the architectural college where she’s the only female student. Her advisor has taken advantage of her and holds it over her head and now she’s shunned by the other students. She applies for the chance to draw plans for her favorite author’s new home, partly to escape the stigma surrounding her at school and mostly to get the opportunity to meet the late author’s family and see his home where he wrote her favorite works. She’s surprised but thrilled when she’s chosen. When Effy arrives at the manor, she’s shocked at its dilapidated state and the darkness that seems to surround it. She meets Preston, a literature student writing his thesis on the same author, and Ianto, the enigmatic son who runs the manor and wants Effy to quickly draw the blueprints for the updated manor. The mysterious surroundings pull Effy and Preston into dangerous territory and they have to fight for everything they believe in if they’re going to survive. 

An absolutely perfect example of magic realism. Effy is a strong character struggling with the lack of rights for women. Preston is a gentleman through and through. Ethnicity is predominantly white. Preston has fawn-colored skin. 

LynnDell Watson, Delta High School Librarian

Where He Can't Find You by Darcy Coates - MANY

Where He Can't Find You by Darcy Coates, 416 pages. Sourcebooks Fire, 2023. $9 

Language: PG-13 (10 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: R (bloody deaths)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

16 yo Abby and her high school group of friends are on top of missing or dead persons in their small town of Doubtful. They stick together and help keep each other safe from the serial killer that lurks around their homes. The group has established rules based on a century of missing people and killings. The town residents have learned to always lock their doors and windows, to never be outside at night and to always have someone with them. When Abby’s sister Hope is pulled from her bedroom window one night, Abby and her friends must use everything they’ve learned to stay alive as they search for Hope and discover the terrifying truth. 

The book is definitely material worthy of a young adult horror movie. I liked the narrative of secondary characters. I grew to care about the two main characters and appreciated their loyalty.  The ethnicity falls to white. 

LynnDell Watson, Delta High School Librarian

Free Radicals by Lila Riesen - OPTIONAL

Free Radicals by Lila Riesen, 389 pages. Nancy Paulsen Books, Penguin Random House, LLC, 2023. $20 

Language: R (84 swears 3 'fs'); Mature Content: PG-13 (offpage sex, sexual references, sexual inudendo, passionate kissing, underage drinking, petty crime); Violence: PG.

BUYING ADVISORY:  HS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

After untrue, malicious rumors are spread about 16yo Mafi she decides to take on the persona of Ghost, someone who secretly avenges the wrongs done to others. Throughout the book, Mafi also navigates high school drama, family drama, living in the shadow of her popular older brother, and hopes her crush will notice her. Mafi has family in Afghanistan who has had to flee their home. Her Baba and the rest of the family are anxiously awaiting news that they have made it out safely. Along the way, Mafi realizes that she will have to break some of her own rules so that she can stand up for what is right. 

I enjoyed reading a story that presented an Afghan-American perspective. I liked the positive messages in the book about family loyalty, standing up for yourself, and standing up for what is right. I appreciated the care and understanding that went into the storylines of those dealing with trauma. Mafi, Kate and Rafi's father is from Afghanistan and their mother is white from Michigan. Mafi inherited her mother's blond hair. Baba is from Afghanistan. Other characters in the book are white and black. 

A. Snow, MLS 

When We Had Summer by Jennifer Castle - ESSENTIAL

When We Had Summer by Jennifer Castle. 324 pages. Hyperion (Disney), 2023. $19 

Language: PG (30 swears 0 'f'): Mature Content: PG (death, grief, anxiety, some chaste kissing) Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Carly, Daniella, Penny, and Lainie have been spending idyllic summers together at the New Jersey shore since they were 6. Each summer they craft a new Summer Sisters bucket list and then spend the summer checking each item off the list. Now that they are 14 and about to start 9th grade everything is different. Carly died suddenly over the winter from a heart condition. Daniella has been accepted to a summer music program in the city, Lainie learns her family is moving out of Ocean Park Heights and Penny is distracted by a job and new boyfriend. Each of the remaining Summer Sisters is dealing with the grief and loss of their friend and the new changes in their lives in different ways. But when they find that Carly had written a summer bucket list before she died, they start trying to work through the list and their grief and find a new way forward together. 

This is a great story about three young women who are trying to navigate grief and change. I think the book is full of some very positive messages. Daniella has been struggling with anxiety since the death of Carly and she uses some positive methods to try and cope. Death and major life changes are hard at any age. These three girls learn through trial and error that relying on good friends, truly seeing others and what they are experiencing, and seeking the good in life is sometimes the best way to get through it. Carly is described as having rusty gold hair, Daniella with light brown skin (Italian/West African heritage), Penny as being pale with sun bleached highlights and Lainie with dark brown skin. 

A. Snow, MLS 

Tutored in Love by Barbara J. Adamson - ADVISABLE

Tutored in Love by Barbara J. Adamson, 328 pages. Covenant Communications, 2023. $17.

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

BUYING ADVISORY: ADULT - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Three years ago, Grace went on a blind date she dubbed “The Great Shame” due to her thoughtlessness. She’s been working on being kinder, and Grace likes to think she’s come a long way. Now in her last semester of college, Grace absolutely must pass her dreaded math class in order to graduate, but that means surviving her tutor, Noah, who obviously despises her.

One of the best parts of this love story is that it takes place over a long period of time, setting it apart from the fast-paced rom-coms that we’ve gotten used to. Adamson highlights the importance of becoming our best selves and how that often leads us to where our best life is lived. Love is about more than a wish list of attributes and having a perfect first date. When we have mercy on ourselves and reserve judgment on those around us, we are happier and uplift those around us, encouraging love in all its forms.

Grace and Noah are described as having “olive” skin. The mature content rating is for mentions of alcohol abuse and drug use.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Indigo and Ida by Heather Murphy Capps - ADVISABLE

Indigo and Ida by Heather Murphy Capps, 292 pages. Carolrhoda (Lerner), 2023. $20

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

8th grader Indigo’s long-term friendships have fallen apart and today she plans on getting those friends back - by getting sent to detention. Once there, though, she sees the other side of race relations at her middle school - all black and brown faces, like hers, in detention. While Indigo wants to be popular, she also can’t see injustice and back down. When she decides to run for student body president - is she likable and electable, or does her fire turn people off? She tries to take her clues from letters she has found that were written by Ida B. Wells - another black woman who always stood up against oppression.

Capps manages to weave in more than a tale of friendship.  She brings in racism, transgender issues, and patriarchy without feeling as if she is cramming them all in. I wish realistic fiction that isn’t sports related or romance was more popular.  Indigo deserves space on your shelves.

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS

Skating on Mars by Caroline Huntoon - ESSENTIAL

Skating on Mars by Caroline Huntoon, 213 pages. Fiewel and Friends (Macmillan), 2023. $18

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG-13 (penis mentioned as differentiating between “boys” and “girls”; Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

12yo Mars has been skating competitively for years, but has felt out of step for a while now - not fitting in as a girl skater, but not feeling the masculine boy energy either. Mars just wants to be Mars. Mars’s best friend, 8th grader Libby, has Mars’ back, but also wants to be friends with other 8th grade girls. When Libby’s new skating partner challenges Mars to a competition, Mars will have to lie to compete as a boy - starting a domino effect of challenges, changes, and new directions.

Huntoon has written so much book within just over 200 pages! What an awesome new talent. Plus librarians, don’t be afraid of LGBT books - Huntoon has captured middle school angst with so much heart - this is a one-sitting read for anyone. I only rate it average because not everyone will be willing to read it.

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS

Dear Rosie by Meghan Boehman and Rachael Briner - OPTIONAL

Dear Rosie by Meghan Boehman and Rachael Briner, 203 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL RH graphic     (Random House), 2023. $21             

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - OPTIONAL        

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

The school year is starting and 7th graders Millie, Florence, Claire and Gabby are best friends in a difficult grieving time. Rosie just died in a car accident that summer which has all of them lost and confused an how to continue without her. While trying to continue with the traditional sleepover, campfire, hangout they discover a book. This book leads them on a race to find how to overcome a loss and build a stronger friendship. It shows how to make new memories without forgetting the old.    

I feel like this book was well written and even though it was simple, had a lot of great moral and lessons learned. It was gentle and very honest about how this could occur in real life. I personal think that there could be more background of Rosie and how she died because it never full said in the book, while in the summary it stated it.

This book doesn't have ethnicity because all the character are portrayed as different animals.

Student Reviewer: ST, 9th grade student

The Mark of Athena: graphic novel by Rick Riordan, Robert Venditti, and Orpheus Collar - ESSENTIAL

The Mark of Athena: graphic novel by Rick Riordan, Robert Venditti, illustrated by Orpheus Collar, unpaged. GRAPHIC NOVEL. Disney, 2023. $15 (paperback)

Violence: PG (mild, some blood depicted)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY 

Number 3 in the Heroes of Olympus graphic novels and as exciting as the novels! Follow Percy and his friends (and enemies) as they try to save or destroy the world -- again.

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS

 

Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare - MANY

Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare 624 pages. Del Rey 2023 $21 

Language: R (31 swears 9 'f's): Mature Content: PG-13 (implied sex) Violence: R (bloody deaths) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS, ADULT - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

10yo Kel and Cas are playing outside at the orphanage when the leader of the Arrow soldiers visits on the King’s orders. Kel is taken to the Castellane palace to attend dinner as a deception in place of Prince Conor, who is supposedly ill. Kel meets Conor after dinner and realizes that the prince wasn’t ill at all but dinner was a test to see if Kel could become the Sword Catcher for Prince Conor. After speaking with the prince, Kel chooses the life of being the prince’s closest companion, bodyguard and replacement if needed. Now, 23yo Kel accompanies Conor almost everywhere but he soon discovers they both have secrets they’re keeping from each other, secrets that might become dangerously fatal.

I absolutely love the character development. The complex world building flowed perfectly and the political intrigue created a dangerous and mysterious environment. The four main characters have completely different personalities with each one being interesting and having depth. Cas and the King are white. Kel and Conor have light brown skin and the Queen has russet-brown skin. Lin is pale skinned. 

LynnDell Watson, Delta High School Librarian

Curious Tides by Pascale Lacelle - MANY

Curious Tides by Pascale Lacelle, 544 pages. Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2023. $17 

Language: R (68 swears 33 'f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (implied sex and underage drinking); Violence: PG-13 (bloody death) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

19yo Emory heads back to Aldryn College for her sophomore year. She’s still reeling from watching her classmates drown last spring,in the Dovermere Cave, as the tide rushed in. Baz likes his solitude; he is the older brother of Romey, who is Emory’s deceased best friend and one of the eight drowned classmates. She ventures to the cove and sees several classmates around a bonfire. All of them see the body of one of the drowned classmates float onto the beach but he isn’t dead; he’s breathing and starts to seize. Emory tries to save him and does more than her magic should allow. Baz is watching and realizes she’s a tidecaller; a person who can perform all types of magic and he realizes Emory has no idea what power she holds. 

The alternating points of view brought more to the story since we learned Emory’s perspective and Baz’ too. Beautiful descriptions of the settings throughout the story. The character development is done well.
Ethnicity is predominantly white with side characters who have umber skin and tawny brown skin.

LynnDell Watson, Delta High School Librarian

Last Chance Dance by Lakita Wilson - MANY

Last Chance Dance by Lakita Wilson. 326 pages. Viking, Penguin Random House LLC, 2023. $19 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: PG (some kissing, one incident of underage drinking); 

Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

Three weeks before high school graduation, 17yo Leila's boyfriend of four years breaks up with her. Even though he still loves her, he feels like he needs to be able to date other people as he heads off to college. Leila is devastated. Her best friend reminds her that the high school's Last Chance Dance is coming up. Still hurt but willing to give it a try Leila submits the names of three crushes to the dance committee; Kai, Mason, and Eva. She is surprised when she is matched with all three of her choices plus a wild card match. Now all she has to do is pick one to go with to the dance. Leila spends the next three weeks working through her grief from the breakup, dealing with her parents' divorce, exploring the possibility of relationships with her four matches, and learning more about who and what she wants in a relationship and out of life. 

I really enjoyed this fast-paced rom-com. The dialog is contemporary. Leila has the support of great family and friends who help her when she is down but are also willing to help her out when she needs to make some self-corrections. There are some positive messages including leaning into joy, being willing to take a chance and step outside of your comfort zone, and that sometimes the things we need come from unlikely sources. There is an added bonus of a scene showing the value of school libraries, librarians, and diversity in books. I also appreciated that the author did not feel the need to rely on the crutch of filling gaps in the dialog with foul language. Leila, her family, most of her friends and all but one of her dates is black. Mason is white. 

A Snow

Vaccines Change the World by Gillian King-Cargile and Sandie Sonk - ADVISABLE

Vaccines Change the World by Gillian King-Cargile, and Sandie Sonk, 192 pages. NON FICTION. Albert Whitman & Company, 2022. $11                       

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL 

Vaccines have saved humans for a few hundred years, and it's all thanks to the brilliant scientists that created them. This book goes through all the stories of the scientists that helped in the creation of these life-saving concoctions and the timeline of the diseases that spurred their creation.  

I think the book was very interesting. I appreciated the detail the author went into to describe the stories and scientific processes. The author included everything and tied the stories together well.

Student Reviewer, KC 9th  

The Other Side of the River (Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna) by Alda P. Dobbs - ADVISABLE

The Other Side of the River (Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna) by Alda P. Dobbs. 368 pages.  Sourcebooks, 2022. $18. 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (peril, injury) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Now safely across the border into the United States, 12yo Petra Luna is desperate to keep her family together, she's a hard worker but she is only twelve and she's trying to support her little sister, baby brother and abuela. There are so many refugees in San Antonio and not enough work or housing for everyone. Petra will work on her days off just to keep her job. But the odds are against her, as soon as her employer finds someone a little older and a little stronger, Petra is let go. She thought life would be so much easier on the other side of the river. 

A darling companion to "The Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna," Dobbs continues the story, but the situation is so different, the plot isn't dependent on having read book 1. I loved Petra's resilience, and way the refugees of the Mexican revolution are portrayed. Although the story takes place more than 100 years ago, I found it interesting and relevant. Petra and her family are Mexican 

Lisa Librarian 

In Nightfall by Suzanne Young - OPTIONAL

In Nightfall by Suzanne Young, 373 pages. Delacorte Press, Penguin Random House, LLC. 2023. $13.

Language: R (64 swears 24 'f'); Mature Content:  PG-13 (Underage drinking). Violence: PG-13 (murder, vampire deaths) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Siblings and high school students Theo and Marco throw an epic end-of-the-year party without permission. As their punishment, their father takes them with him to spend the summer at their grandma's house on the Oregon coast. Their grandmother is superstitious and the town is small. Marco and Theo are not happy to be there. They soon make friends with some of the local kids and things seem to be looking up. Their grandmother tells them to always be home before dark but their new friends seem to have a magnetic pull that Theo and Marco can not resist. Soon Theo begins to see that the town and her new friends are hiding dark secrets. 

An enjoyable vampire story. The characters were interesting and believable. The story had good pacing. I liked that the whole town was involved in the story in one way or another. The excessive use of the F word was unnecessary. Beware that vampires are killed by decapitation, and by being run through by stakes. Bodies are discovered that have been bitten and mauled. Theo and Marco have a white father and Hispanic mother. Their friends are described as white, black and brown. 

A. Snow 

Seven Percent Of Ro Devereux by Ellen O'Clover - OPTIONAL

Seven Percent Of Ro Devereux by Ellen O'Clover, 312 pages. Harper Teen, 2023. $15 

Language: R (100 swears 20 'f'); Mature Content:  PG-13 (Kissing, making out and caressing but nothing too descriptive) Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Rose Devereux is 18yo and a high school senior. All of Ro's life there has been one thing for certain. She is going to create some world altering technology and be living in California. Her father has other plans, and wants her to continue the family legacy and work at his cafe. It isn't until Ro creates an app for a senior project that suddenly her dreams become a reality. The app, MASH can use human behavior to predict your future. MASH becomes a overnight sensation and everyone is downloading it and wanting to see what their lives are like, and Ro must decide if her algorithm is playing god or just a fun past time. 

Seven Percent Of Ro Devereux is an entertaining and interesting book but lacks in logic and character development. This book is a fun read but often times I was left scratching my head at the ideas behind MASH the app and the claims how it's backed by 'science' and 'behavioral psychology'. The book didn't actually provide any science just broad sayings. I also thought the characters were very flat and often times one dimensional and not very relatable . Rose Devereux is white with bright blonde hair. 

Kenzie Hoehne Reviewer

Looking For True by Tricia Springstubb - ADVISABLE

Looking For True by Tricia Springstubb, 273 pages. Margaret Ferguson Books (Holiday House), 2022. $19

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ESSENTIAL; MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

11yo Gladys, small for her age, quite eccentric in her dress and vocabulary use, meets Jude, also 11yo, but he is quite laid back, easy going and tries to always be obedient. Both kids live in a ramshackle neighborhood. Gladys’ mom runs a daycare and Gladys often has to help out; her dad works all day. Jude has a mother and a little brother, but no father. Jude's mother works at the rest-home and takes every shift she can get. She is always exhausted and not always very nice. Jude is mostly responsible for his little brother. A chance meeting with a neglected dog brings these two kids together. They name the dog True. They find out where the dog lives and go by to visit as often as they can. One day True is gone. They set out to find True, and when they do they decide to hide the dog in a safe place, and visit every day. They even make a schedule. Things do not go as planned and the kids panic a little, then come up with a new plan.

I loved this book; it touched my heart. Here are these two kids who really have nothing, doing all they can to save this dog. The story is told by both Gladys and Jude in alternating chapters. Gladys is extremely bright and Jude is so level headed. It really is great to see how these two, very different kids end up working together. It is great, this way you get the perspective of both the children. I would highly recommend this book. It might even want you and your children to get a dog of your own.

Ellen-Anita, Librarian