by Mariko Tamaki Illustrated by Rosemary Valero-O’Connell 2 stars A slow-paced story about what happens when the power of love works against you and how it can overshadow other aspects of your life. Freddy loves Laura Dean. But their on-again-off-again relationship leaves her confused and wondering, is it worth staying with someone you love if…
Read More
by Lindsay Christina King Illustrated by Carolyn Frank 5 stars Such a wonderful read! At the start, we are introduced to Skye, who shares stories from her grandfather about the natural world. They explain the origins of animal characteristics such as raccoon’s black mask, beaver’s large teeth, and rabbit’s long ears. Each story ends with…
Read More
4 stars When her sister, Letty, teases Felicity about never finishing her projects, Felicity sets out to win the Pitch the Future competition. To do so, she must team up with her friend and come up with a great idea to change the world. But along the way, she has to face disagreements of ideas,…
Read More
5 stars I always love a visit to Berrybrook Middle School. The third book in the series does not disappoint. I loved Jorge’s character is the second book, so was especially excited to follow him in this one. Jorge is perfectly content to hang out with his two best friends and serve as the quiet…
Read More
5 stars Another fantastic story in the Berrybrook Middle School series. This book works in many of the issues brought up in the first book. It really focuses on bullying and the culture that normalizes it. I loved that the characters examine the deeper issues of bullying and the ways they can change their environment…
Read More
3 stars I recently read The Woman in the Woods and Other North American Stories and absolutely loved it. So, I thought I’d read some of the earlier collections in the series. What I loved about The Woman in the Woods is that it showcases a variety of indigenous authors and artists. As far as I can…
Read More
Illustrated by Yoshi Yoshitani 3 stars A fun spin on the Titans. Nice mix of daily life and superhero escapades. Works well for those who are at least vaguely aware of the DC characters and are accepting of changes to the universe. The story follows Mandy, who sees herself as the opposite of her mother,…
Read More
5 stars Gonna keep this one short and sweet because I have nothing but wonderful things to say about this book. What an incredible read! Even with its short length, Polk packs an entire world into this book. They really made every word count and I loved every moment of it. A fantastic noir with…
Read More
by Alex Boersma and Nick Pyenson Illustrated by Alex Boersma 5 stars A captivating journey that shows how one whale, and the world, can change over the course of 200 years. Boersma and Pyenson beautifully capture a portion of a bowhead whale’s life, from learning from her mother, avoiding whalers, and raising her own calves,…
Read More
by K. A. Reynolds Illustrated by Chloe Dominique 4 stars A sweet story about facing anxiety, including different ways of staying calm such as yoga, deep breathing, and sharing your fears. Loved the connection between Bea and her human friend. The presentation really captures the relationship between a child and her dog. Delightful and warm…
Read More