4 stars After a summer spent studying for Chinese school, playing soccer, and bonding with her grandmother visiting from Taiwan, Měi Yīng is excited to start fifth grade. But then she becomes the target of new kid Sid’s racist jokes. Should she ignore him like everyone suggests or stand up to his ignorance? Great themes…
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2.5 stars Adorable artwork, a sweet supporting cast, and plenty of trauma to go around. The adorable cover and sweet synopsis did not prepare me for what this book was actually about. Despite being reduced to a single mention of “a complicated home life” on the back cover, the bulk of this volume is actually…
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Adapted and illustrated by Victoria Ying Based on Amber Brown Is Not a Crayon by Paula Danziger 3 stars I really enjoyed this series as a kid and it was fun to revisit this story in graphic format. The illustrations are great. Ying’s character designs are wonderful and the art really captures their movements and…
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Illustrated by Tony Ross 3.5 stars I loved this series as a kid and wanted to give it a reread after finishing the graphic novel adaption. In this one, Amber is upset that her best friend, Justin, is moving away. Every time she tries to talk to him about it, he acts like nothing is…
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Illustrated by Natasha Nayo 3 stars It’s Kwame’s first year at Nkonyaa School, where children learn about their innate magic and how to use it with the help of magical calabashes. But when he arrives, his teachers can’t figure out the magic of his calabash. A fun adventure inspired by Akan beliefs and practices. Mensah…
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Illustrated by Anna Volcan 2 stars Some dynamics of school stay the same no matter where you are. Feeling like an outsider, getting used to new teachers, and the quandary of where to sit in the cafeteria. These are true even if your school is attended by ghosts, werewolves, and vampires. This is a pretty…
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Story by Mei Hachimoku Illustrated by Koudon Translated by Alexa Frank 5 stars In this volume, Anzu and Kaoru continue their exploration of the Urashima Tunnel, attempting to unlock its secrets. Along the way, Kaoru learns why Anzu is interested in the tunnel in the first place, has an unexpected reunion, and must make a…
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Illustrated by Kukka Translated by Evan Ward 3 stars A mysterious tunnel rumored to grant wishes, a pair of teens with troubled pasts, and an unexpected friendship born from the desire to know more. I’ve been really loving the manga of this and enjoyed the anime so I figured I’d check out the original light…
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Illustrated by Mika Song 3 stars A follow-up early chapter book to the picture book, A Friend for Henry. One day at school, Henry’s teacher tells the class that they will have a parade on Friday. But that means changing their weekly schedule. Henry soon becomes frustrated by the changing rules, the loudness of the parade…
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Illustrated by Mika Song 2 stars A story about a boy looking for a friend at school who is quiet, shares, listens, and follows the rules. While it is started in the blurb that Henry is autistic, it does not make mention in the actual story as the author wanted the story to be more…
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