True True by Don P. Hooper, deals with important topics in a realistic way. It perfectly encompasses being a teenager while having to struggle with adult real-world problems. Seventeen year old, Gil got a robotics scholarship into Augustain Prep,  a private predominantly white school, and upon his first few days he deals with racist hate speech which leads him to be blamed and put on probation because he was pushed into a bookshelf and broke it. He has to push back against the blatant racism of the students and alumni through social media and public events while having a grandma with Dementia, his dad in Jamaica, and trying equally to spread out his time to keep his friends back in Brooklyn as well as his friends at Augustin Prep. I love the realistic way it deals with relationships and racism. It doesn’t have an unrealistic surupy ending because realistically, it isn’t going to end like that when there are so many factors and so many people pushing back against change. There is a lot of representation throughout the characters and many complex characters and relationships. There is someone for everyone to relate to and see themselves in. I loved the bond between Gil and Kenya as well as the depth in Strech’s character. The well-developed plot of this non-fiction book was paced amazingly, there was always something attention-grabbing going on. This cultural coming-of-age novel will be of particular interest to those seeking a realistic, plot-packed, well-written contemporary novel. Readers who love plot-heavy or action books will love the fast pace of the novel. Readers who look for romance will appreciate the accurate semi-slow burn of the romance between Gil and Tammy as well as the nicknames between them. Readers who love the found family trope will love the friendships that are portrayed throughout the entire book with compound dynamics. All readers will love the representations throughout this book with culture, race, and sexuality. Readers who enjoy a healthy relationship with grandparents will fondly look at the relationship between Gil and his Grandmother. This review was written by a Washington Middle School student.

The vibrant graphic novel The Glass Scientists by S. H. Ctugno is a perfect retelling of old gothic folklore turned into a fun slice of life novel. Dr. Henry Jekyll grapples with his inner demon, Mr. Hyde while he goes through day-to-day life in a mad scientists society trying to gain the trust of normal people and cure Dr. Frankenstein of a deadly disease. What I love about this book is the art style. the art style is very colorful with a very simplistic-detailed character design. the colors are vivid showing emotion in every surface. The mostly leisurely story helps the story details the vast array of characters while still giving the hype and stakes when the plot is at full display. The unpredictable plot always keeps the reader in anticipation for the next event in the story. the comedic reimagining of old gothic fiction thrives in this new colorful graphic novel. Graphic novel lovers will love the vibrant pictures and the story while the old gothic fiction lovers will adore the new reimagining of the beloved characters from the old stories.

The Do More Club is a great middle-grades read that inspires students to take action. When Josh Kline, the main character’s school is the target of antisemitic slurs he is motivated to take action. Josh realizes he is not alone and with the help of his classmates takes a stand against the hate by promoting kindness. This book brings up important issues in a gentle and relatable way. This is an important book that helps readers to know that everyone can make a difference and take a stand no matter who you are.

Mascot is a lively set of conversations around the topic of racism/discrimination which spreads middle school-wide from an eighth-grade Honors English class outward and into the entire community.

Abraham Lincoln made a statement that can apply to the having of indigenous mascots for sports teams- ” You can fool all the people some of the time and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.” Or DeShanne Stoke’s statement- “Discrimination is discrimination even when people claim it’s ‘tradition’.”

So who is correct about allowing sports/school teams to continue to use (often derogatory) Indigenous-themed mascots – the team who has been using the mascot for generations or the Indigenous group who claims the mascot is disrespectful and hurtful to their people? Mascot gives a well-rounded set of views, both pro and con, to this very question. Six students, in pairs, are assigned this topic to debate in their Eighth Grade Honors English Class. They are not necessarily assigned the side of this question they favor. Will they be able to sympathize with the other side, at all? Will any of the students change their current position on the topic once their research is completed? Can middle schoolers make a change in their community? The school mascot in question won’t even be their mascot until next year when they graduate from the local high school. HIGH FIVE to authors Charles Waters and Traci Sorell for a job well done! Submitted by Mary Pong for Washington Middle School

Ghost by Jason Reynolds is a very impressive piece of writing with an excellent plot Castle Cranshaw lives a life with many hardships but finds his passion in running. The descriptive language and mood of the book were what made it engaging. The amazing literary devices in this book make it a captivating novel. A reader who likes to be motivated would love to read this novel, it could also interest people of diverse backgrounds. This book reviewed was the version translated into Spanish. Reviewed by a Washington Middle School student. 

Things in the Basement by Ben Hatke will be a sure winner with early intermediate readers. Milo is sent on a mission to find his little sister’s sock and is taken into his basement to try and find it. Despite the multiple basement layers, Milo is determined to help his mom and find his sister’s sock.I loved how the book’s illustration details and the vivid and interesting text complement one another. The can’t Take Your Eyes Away plot makes this graphic novel a page-turner. 4-5th graders will love the illustrations that cover each page while middle school readers will how this story makes them want to never put it down. All readers will love how Ben Hatke compliments the text with illustrations. Reviewed by a Washington Middle School student. 

This DC graphic novel flawlessly presents a strong message of fighting injustices and coming into your own against all odds, paired with deep characters and gorgeous illustrations. Since she was young, Nubia has had superpowers but has always hidden her abilities because when people see her, they assume the worst of her. An entitled and hateful boy begins to threaten Nubia’s best friend, Quisha, Nubia begins to use her powers to fight injustices and become a superhero in a society that keeps trying to force her down. The colorful and vivid illustrations paired with the message of bringing up people who have been forced down create a complex, bold graphic novel of coming into one’s own against all odds. This brave and persevering graphic novel built of thoughtful and often witty dialogue and vivid illustrations encourages activism for equality in society for BIPOC, fighting for social justice, as well as showing people the importance of supporting each other for who you are. Comic-book readers and social activism readers alike will appreciate the powerful messages bringing awareness to the struggles of becoming a superhero when most of society is up against you. Reviewed by a Washington Middle School Student,

By Sean Hayes, Todd Milliner, and Carlyn Greenwald

Time Out is a great novel for upper-middle to high school readers. Barclay Elliot is the high school basketball star that is expected to lead his team to the championship this year. He “walks on water” to all in his small hometown. Barclay decides that he is going to come out at the first pep rally and has a rude awakening when the town and his team do not have his back. Barclay learns what it means to be an upstander in his community. He learns that true friends can help a person get through hard times. This coming-of-age novel is a must-read for all who are navigating friendships and school. There are some rude homophobic remarks said by the basketball players and bad language throughout which makes it more appropriate for grades 8-12.

This brilliant fantasy novel uses bright and detailed decisive imagery to pull readers into the story along with the characters! In a spiraling world of danger after helping their father steal an outlawed book, Rachel and Robert Klein have to work to figure out the secrets that the Book holds, while a corrupt new leader tries to steal the information they have. The vibrant, well-imagined characters slip around this complex story illustrated with quick energy. The bright imagery grabs readers’ senses and imaginations, immersing the readers in truly experiencing this mysterious fantasy novel! Audiences with a taste for mystery will appreciate the quick and winding puzzle, the humor sprinkled in across the pages will leave readers with a smile on their faces, and the figurative language paints a story that will pull in readers of any age. Reviewed by a Washington Middle School student.

The book focuses in on the Dime novel Kids on Hatteras Island after a U-boat attack in World War 2. The kids then suspect there are German spies roaming around, and set out to catch them. The book illustrates a mysterious setting, all while adding small suspense in between. The action goes along great with the mystery, making it seem like you’re solving a real mystery. Readers will enjoy this book’s intense, but yet calming setting. However, this book is a great read for everyone, as the suspense and the pace at which information is given will surely keep everyone reading.  Readers who enjoy historical fiction and a good mystery should read this book. Book was reviewed by a Washington Middle School student.